One minute doesn't sound like a lot of time. And a few dozen fils doesn't sound like a lot of money.
But when you put them in league with each other through a prepaid mobile phone account, they tend to congregate in the shadows and conspire against you until you're old and broke.
Consider this typical three-call conversation between my wife and I last weekend as we attempted to reunite in the mall for a movie (her words are in brackets):
"Hey. (Hey.) Where are you? (I'm coming.) OK, bye. (Bye.)" Sixty fils.
"Hey. (Hey). You said you are coming, where are you? (I'll be there.) You said that 15 minutes ago. The previews are starting. (OK, OK!) Bye. (Bye.)" Sixty fils.
"(Hey) What? (I'm in the theatre, where are you?) Third row from top - I'm the angry guy waving. (Oh, I see. Bye.) Bye." Sixty fils.
That's Dh1.80 total. Of course, you can call me penny wise and pound foolish, especially when you consider the Dh60 we wasted on Battle: Los Angeles. But each time I top off our mobile accounts with a few hundred dirhams, I realise that 90 per cent of my rented satellite time goes towards answering one simple question: where are you?
The app
Fortunately, there's Voxer (iPhone, Android coming soon), a smartphone app that offers a much better, and much cheaper, way to co-ordinate your co-ordinates. The free app is also free to use (or as free as we'll ever get on this earthly plane).
Though technically a social networking app, Voxer works more like a walkie-talkie, allowing users to exchange near real-time voice messages over a data network. Each "call" then costs no more than an e-mail and, also like an e-mail, works planet-wide.
The details
Like many apps, Voxer requires everyone to have Voxer to play, and not surprisingly, politely asks right away if it can gain access to your Facebook account - which you can refuse. But it makes things a bit easier by letting you invite anyone on your contact list to join in by downloading the app with a single tap.
After that, you simply hold down the "Hold and Talk" button walkie-talkie style (you'll forget to keep it held down the first few tries until muscle memory takes over) and speak. Once you let go, the person on the other end will get a push notification that opens the app on their end, allowing them to hear your message and respond instantly. A kind of two-way "radio transmission" can then go on for a minute or hours - it's up to you.
Tap the user icon on the left side and you can see your contact's GPS location. The app also allows you to send text and photos.
Using Voxer, daily exchanges between my wife and I, such as the one at the theatre last week, would cost us not Dh1.80, but a mere 4.5 fils or less, depending on our data plans.
In a few years we could save a bundle, perhaps even enough to see Battle: Los Angeles II.
Have some great personal finance apps that you want to share? Write to Curt Brandao at cbrandao@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Ballon d’Or shortlists
Men
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)
Women
Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)
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