This year, long-distance couples have the benefit of utilizing technology to make it easier than ever for them to feel like they are right in the same room. By accessing apps and simple features on their smartphones, couples can plan the perfect “virtual Valentine’s Day.”
“Even though you may be hundreds or even thousands of miles apart from your significant other, your smartphone can help make it feel like the distance doesn’t matter this Valentine’s Day,” said Laurie Poellinger, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Wisconsin. “Having an instant connection anywhere you go is just another way your mobile phone can enhance your relationship.”
The following suggestions from U.S. Cellular show how simple it can be to achieve the perfect virtual Valentine’s Day. All apps are available on Google Play, and the tips work across a range of devices including the 4G LTE Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S® III and Samsung Galaxy Note® II:
In the Morning
On the morning of Valentine’s Day, make it feel like your partner is right there with you getting ready for the day. While you’re performing early morning tasks -- cleaning, walking the dog, making breakfast -- use your smartphone’s Bluetooth headset and the Skype app. Voice and video calls are free to anyone else on Skype, whether they have a smartphone, tablet or computer. You’ll be hands-free to take care of your morning responsibilities and you’ll get your Valentine’s Day off to a good start. To manage your data usage while using Skype, the Wi-Fi Now app will automatically connect your device to Wi-Fi hotspots. Before or after your call, make your partner feel special by sending them a customized e-card through the Jeego app. Send these animated cards to your partner’s Facebook, Twitter, email or even their smartphone, and personalize them with your own special photos and text.
During the Day
Even though you may be at work, you can still make your partner feel special throughout the day. With the Pair app, you can easily stay in touch with the person you love, sharing the little things throughout your day with each other, without sacrificing your productivity during the day. Pair creates a timeline for just the two of you where you can chat, share video messages, voice messages, and your location with each other with just the touch of a button.
If you’re both online at the same time, Pair allows you to sketch together and even “ThumbKiss.” This feature shows you where your partner is touching their phone’s screen so you can touch the same spot and make both your phones vibrate simultaneously. Pair is perfect for long-distance relationships by keeping all your special moments saved privately in one place.
The Big Night
The most exciting part of Valentine’s Day is the night out. But why pass up dinner and a movie just because your partner is so far away? Talk to your partner and see what similar restaurants you have in each of your respective areas. The Yelp app can make this process a breeze by helping search for local eateries that match up with ones near your partner. Once you’ve chosen a location, you and your partner can enjoy a “simultaneous dinner” by each ordering a similar meal. With a smartphone, you can then take advantage of the moment by hosting a Google Hangout. A Hangout will let you see and hear your partner, similar to a webcam, but through your smartphone! Finish up your Valentine’s dinner by cueing up the same movie or TV show. While on Hangout, you can feel like you’re enjoying dinner and a movie together while seeing and sharing all the laughter and the tears!
“U.S. Cellular makes it easier to stay in touch by keeping you and your loved one connected, with 4G LTE speeds that are up to 10 times faster than 3G and similar to a cable Internet connection a high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier,” adds Poellinger.
4G LTE service provided through King Street Wireless, a partner of U.S. Cellular. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.
