Apple Confirms FaceTime Video Calling Will Not Use Cellular Minutes
"The voice call ends as soon as the FaceTime call connects," Apple tells us. "The FaceTime call is over Wi-Fi so does not use carrier minutes."
Apple CEO Steve Jobs noted during his introduction of iPhone 4 and FaceTime at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month that the company will be working with carriers to allow FaceTime over cellular networks but that it will remain Wi-Fi-only at least through the end of the year.Once the feature does go live on cellular networks, today's report points out that Apple and service providers will have to determine whether FaceTime sessions are billed as minutes, data, or both, or even a completely new category of consumption.
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25 months ago
Good to know. I wonder how this will change when FaceTime is available over 3G. Hopefully, it'll only count as data, not voice.
25 months ago
I would imagine that this feature will eventually find itself used on cellular networks. Maybe Verizon?
25 months ago
I'm willing to bet FaceTime is the next in a long line of disappointments from AT&T. First MMS, then tethering. What's the over/under on what year AT&T actually allows FaceTime over the cellular network?
25 months ago
I would count that as a plus, but all those iPhone 4 using friends of mine will be on AT&T, which doesn't use my minutes anyway. :rolleyes:
25 months ago
that Apple and service providers will have to determine whether FaceTime sessions are billed as minutes, data, or both, or even a completely new category of consumption.
Completely new category for sure - something else to nickel and dime the customer for. It is a good thing that the world is so dependent on cell phones and locked into providers, because the business model of 'screw the customer as much as possible' always causes me to scratch my head.
25 months ago
I'm willing to bet FaceTime is the next in a long line of disappointments from AT&T. First MMS, then tethering. What's the over/under on what year AT&T actually allows FaceTime over the cellular network?
Yea, not holding my breath on the AT&T network be able to support FaceTime in the near term/long term. Lots of Wifi usage for me in my business cycle means I will not have the need for it to work on their network.
I'll be happy if the new phone/AT&T drop less calls. That'll be an upgrade worthy of enjoyment :-)
25 months ago
I would imagine that this feature will eventually find itself used on cellular networks. Maybe Verizon?
Can we stop mentioning Verizon. It's getting as annoying as their "can you hear me now" ads. If anything, T-mobile is just as or more likely due to shared tech.
25 months ago
Hopefully Skype or some other chat host will make an app so you can video chat from iPhone 4 to a CPU!
25 months ago
So does this mean that we can have face time chats with non-iPhone users given that if you're a iPhone user than most likely you're on AT&T and therefore such users have mobile to mobile free calls?
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