At its core, a phone is a device for calling and texting. With processing power comparable to some computers from just a few years ago, however, smartphones have expanded our options for getting and staying in touch with everyone we know.
If you got a new Android phone for Christmas, you can maximize its potential for communication by grabbing these five essential apps:
Facebook for Android. If you're on Facebook, you probably can't spend enough time on it. With an interface that's easy on the eyes and intuitive navigation, this app makes keeping up with your Facebook pals a breeze even on Android phones with smaller displays. My favorite part is the photo reel at the bottom of the icon dashboard, which lets you swipe through thumbnails of your contacts' recently uploaded images.
TweetDeck. The official Twitter app is good. The lack of support for multiple accounts, however, is a definite dealbreaker. Tweetdeck for Android, on the other hand, brings that, along with the full roster of features in its desktop version. Plus, it supports Buzz, Facebook and Foursquare accounts, all while being completely free.
Meebo. Granted, Meebo isn't the best IM app on Android. However, it is the best one offered for free. With support for all the major IM clients and a good helping of features, you really can't do better without forking out some cash.
Google Voice. With this app, you can call, send an SMS, receive voice mail and perform a whole host of phone communications over data lines. That means, no extra charge on your monthly billing (provided you don't go over your data cap, of course).
Fring. If you plan to do VoIP video calls (over Skype or SIP) on your Android handset, you want Fring. On top of that, it also doubles as a decent all-in-one IM app and can be downloaded for free.
