FaceTime Video Calls Still Limited to Wi-Fi as LTE iPad Rolls Out
The Verge confirms in its testing with a review unit of the new iPad with 4G LTE that FaceTime video calling remains limited to Wi-Fi networks despite the fact that LTE offers greater bandwidth than many Wi-Fi networks.
As the report notes, Steve Jobs claimed during FaceTime's introduction at the iPhone 4 media event in June 2010 that Apple still needed to work with carriers to support FaceTime over cellular data networks and that the feature would consequently remain Wi-Fi-only at least through 2010. Well into 2012 and with 3G now giving way to LTE on the new iPad, it seems that carriers are still unwilling to allow FaceTime calls to be transmitted natively over their networks, presumably due to concerns about increased data usage and strained network capacity.
We've just confirmed that although the new iPad has incredibly fast download and upload speeds over LTE, FaceTime video chat still won't work directly on the 4G network. As you can see in the positively vexing screenshot above, attempting to initiate a FaceTime call over LTE fails out with a message exhorting you to connect to a Wi-Fi network.
As the report notes, Steve Jobs claimed during FaceTime's introduction at the iPhone 4 media event in June 2010 that Apple still needed to work with carriers to support FaceTime over cellular data networks and that the feature would consequently remain Wi-Fi-only at least through 2010. Well into 2012 and with 3G now giving way to LTE on the new iPad, it seems that carriers are still unwilling to allow FaceTime calls to be transmitted natively over their networks, presumably due to concerns about increased data usage and strained network capacity.
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17 months ago
The carriers will continue to be the problem going forward.
With the iPad on LTE we now have a device that may have near cable internet speed on the go. And it is still handicapped by the pos carriers.
Using my iPhone to tether to my iPad for the MLB app last year I was able to only watch 3 full games per month before I hit the 4GB cap. LTE will make streaming easier and faster but it doesn't matter until we solve the carrier problem.
With the iPad on LTE we now have a device that may have near cable internet speed on the go. And it is still handicapped by the pos carriers.
Using my iPhone to tether to my iPad for the MLB app last year I was able to only watch 3 full games per month before I hit the 4GB cap. LTE will make streaming easier and faster but it doesn't matter until we solve the carrier problem.
17 months ago
That's just silly.
When the data was unlimited, then it made at lest some logical sense to impose this limit. But if the carriers are going to charge for usage, wouldn't it make sense for them to want us to use a lot?
When the data was unlimited, then it made at lest some logical sense to impose this limit. But if the carriers are going to charge for usage, wouldn't it make sense for them to want us to use a lot?
17 months ago
If Skype works well enough over 3G than what's the issue with enabling FaceTime over 3G and now LTE? :confused:
17 months ago
Is anyone really surprised? I bet that the carriers are looking for ways to incorporate this into an additional fee. In addition to voice, text/mms, data, you would now have video calling and be possibly charged for minutes. But who knows, I could be wrong, but I see the Carriers doing that in a heart beat...
17 months ago
It's funny how Skype video calling works over 3G... yet it's the carrier's fault that Facetime doesn't. :rolleyes:
So easy to blame the carriers.
So easy to blame the carriers.
17 months ago
Facetime works just fine over 3G (via jailbreak), the carries just don't want several million people doing it over their network until they can find a way to charge for it.
But they want Skype to do it... RIIIIIIGHT. :rolleyes:
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It is the carriers fault cause since apple is a partner they can be told no. Since Skype is not and is just an app on the iPad there is nothing the carrier can do about it. So yes it is big telecoms preventing it this would let people get a lot closer to full use and that cuts into those margins.
Sure there is, they could tell Apple to kick Skype out of the app Store. And frankly, that's what was happening until suddenly Apple allowed the feature.
17 months ago
People with glasses and beards now use the internet too?
People with glasses and beards BUILT the internet
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