If you want a more fun, more personal or simply a different way of keeping in touch, try out these for an alternative to Facebook and Twitter:
HeyTell
Available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Record and send voice messages to friends and family for free, like a personal voicemail service. Or use it to have walkie-talkie fun with your new housemates!
Useful for when the person you want to talk to can’t get to the phone – this allows you to send an audio message, which they can listen to and respond whenever is suitable. Messages have low data usage so it’s as fast as sending an email. It also has a group message function, and fun voice effects.
Viber
Available for iOS, Android, Blackberry Windows Phone
Let’s users make free phone calls, send free text messages, send photos and share location for free, with no limitations on device, country, network or device. Use your own phone number as your ID – no log-in, password or registration required.
The app instantly integrates with your contact list, and lets you see which of your friends already use it. Call home even when you have used your limit!
Bump
Available for iOS, Android
This app is great for those first few weeks to assist with making new friends. Use Bump to share your ‘card’ which you can set up to include whatever contact information you like.
Just open the app, bump your phones together, and the info will magically be shared. Can also be used to share photos, find mutual friends and transport between your phone and computer using http://bu.mp/
Skype
Available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Symbian, Verizon
Make Skype-to-Skype video or voice calls and instant messages for free, or use ‘conference calls’ to voice call in groups for free.
It’s useful for those moments when you want to see a familiar face or talk to your family at home all together. Use Skype to make video group chats or call phones for a fee.
Google+
Available for iOS, Android, Blackberry
A relatively new social network, Google+ has some exciting features that come in very handy for keeping in touch. Video chat with up to nine friends using mobile Hangouts – this is a fantastic free alternative to paying for a Skype subscription. Also use for posting photos, sharing status updates, creating events and chat using messenger.
Find My Friends
Available for iOS
Easily locate your new housemates at those busy fresher’s events using this app. Send a request to your friends to see their location on a list or map.
Pair
Available for iOS, Android
A private app, to maintain communication between a pair, be that boyfriend and girlfriend or best friends – this is great for long-distance pairs. It creates a timeline just for the two of you, where you can post messages, send photos, videos, share your location and even draw sketches. If you both have Facetime, you can easily switch from text to video chat from within the app and there is also a ‘thinking of you’ function.
It saves important dates like birthdays, and allows you to make joint to-do lists. If you’re both online you can sketch together, and use ‘ThumbKiss’ – a feature that lets you touch your screens, your device vibrates when you are touching the same spot. Cute hey!
Duet
Available for iOS
Send personal invitations of all kinds to your friends and family. This app lets you propose ideas and events, and you can even attach personal video invitations.
You can use this to create a’ life list’ of all the things you want to do. Once a duet is paired, it becomes a conversation, which can be used to send notes, photos and videos. What’s more your conversations will be saved on the app, like a memory box.
Remember the Milk
Available for iOS, Android, Blackberry
This helps you to organise your life, helpful for remembering your new university timetable, fresher’s events and Skype dates with old friends all in one place. Create to-do lists that can be prioritised by due date, repeat tasks or tags, and set up reminders for email, SMS or instant messenger. Sync with Twitter, Gmail, RTM website, and more.
The Student Room
Available for iOS, Android
Be a part of the largest online student community straight from your smartphone. You can use the network to make friends with other UK students, learn together or source advice on any issues using the forums, this can provide you with some support while you’re settling in.