Apple Appears Set to Support FaceTime Over 3G in iOS 5, But Will Carriers Follow Suit?

by

facetime cellular dialog box
9 to 5 Mac reports that one of its readers has passed along a screenshot of an iOS 5 dialog box suggesting that Apple is preparing to support FaceTime video calling over cellular networks with the new operating system set for release this fall.

FaceTime Unavailable

Turn on cellular data or use Wi-Fi to use FaceTime.

FaceTime has officially been limited to Wi-Fi on iOS devices since its debut last year, although users have been able to work around that limitation using either jailbreaking solutions or MiFi connectivity.

Official FaceTime support over cellular networks will almost certainly require individual carriers to also be on board in much the same way that carriers have needed to support Internet tethering and other features that have the potential to significantly increase demand on their networks.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tag: FaceTime Guide
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Neutral)
Related Forums: iPhone, iPad

Top Rated Comments

Žalgiris Avatar
Žalgiris
130 months ago
The situation with mobile internet in the US is really pathetic. Data plan for this, tada plan for that, want to tether pay more, more, more. For Christ sake it's data and if i bought 5 GB of data i don't give a damn and i will use it as i please (on a phone, on a computer, for video chats, for downloads, for what i need).
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bkj216 Avatar
bkj216
130 months ago
Given how many issues Apple tends to have with carriers, how long until they just branch off and offer their own service?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KindredMAC Avatar
KindredMAC
130 months ago
FaceTime should be offered over 3G since you can FaceTime on an iPad2 hotspotted to an iPhone 4 already...

Ridiculous....
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Consultant Avatar
Consultant
130 months ago
Carriers should be fine. They already support other VoIP and video chat apps on iPhone over 3G.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0815 Avatar
0815
130 months ago
Facetime will never be a success without working on 3G - either people can reach me anytime or it is pointless ... so I hope this is true - especially that now that I gave up hope for a true iPad client of Skype due to the Microsoft ownership.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diamond.g Avatar
diamond.g
130 months ago
Why would FaceTime need carrier approval when Skype, Fring, NimBuzz, etc already allow video chats over 3G?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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