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AT&T Seems to Be Extending FaceTime-Over-Cellular to All Customers

Tuesday November 20, 2012 9:24 pm PST by Arnold Kim
AT&T appears to be quietly extending FaceTime-Over-Cellular capabilities to all their iPhone customers. Earlier this month, AT&T announced that they would allow any customer "with an LTE device" on a "tiered data plan" to use iOS 6's FaceTime over Cellular feature.

This, however, excluded a number of customers, including those with grandfathered unlimited data plans as well as those with the iPhones 4S. (Note, iOS 6, itself, can only supports FaceTime-over-Cellular on the 4S, 5 and iPad 3rd Gen or higher)


Tonight, Forum user kre62 noticed that both his iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 with unlimited AT&T data plans now support FaceTime over cellular.
In a recent thread we were discussing AT&T members getting facetime with LTE devices and tiered plans. However I noticed today that I have facetime over cellular and I have an unlimited plan on my 5.

I just turned off my other phone, a 4S and turned it back on, only to find the switch flipped to ON for facetime over cellular. Both phones work perfectly over cellular.

I also checked a few coworkers phones, all now have FT over cellular.
This finding has been confirmed by a number of users in this discussion thread -- though some users have been unable to activate it so it may still be rolling out to some areas. AT&T had said the original rollout for tiered plans could take 8-10 weeks. Most of the positive responses have been those with the iPhone 5 and grandfathered unlimited data, but the original poster also had luck with an iPhone 4S.

Some users have had to completely restart their phones for the service to go into effect. There still remains a possibility that this is an oversight on AT&T's part. We are reaching out to AT&T for clarification on their policy.

[ 467 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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aluren
82 months ago
Thanks. Can we get free tethering now?
Rating: 11 Votes
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mrsir2009
82 months ago
How generous...
Rating: 11 Votes
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SamGabbay
82 months ago
Works for me! Looks like AT&T is coming around just in time for the holidays.

Thanks AT&T... for this early Hanukkah present.

__________________
"Sometimes we do things, and then other things happen. Why? I'll let you know." - Me
Rating: 6 Votes
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saminator8
82 months ago
Still not working

I have a 4S with unlimited data on ATT. I restarted the phone and it still says I need to call ATT.
Rating: 4 Votes
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shurcooL
82 months ago
So, how long until we get a VoiceTime? As in FaceTime but without the video, meaning voice over data. Any predictions?
Rating: 4 Votes
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Mr. Gates
82 months ago
Why not ? You pay for data now.

I got grandfathered in early with the first iPhone, but it doesn't matter. Now they throttle your speed down to nothing if you go over 3 gigs .

Be careful people.

AT&T is NOT to be trusted in ANY fashion
Rating: 3 Votes
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QJMan
82 months ago

So, how long until we get a VoiceTime? As in FaceTime but without the video, meaning voice over data. Any predictions?


You could always make a VoiceTime from FaceTime:
use FaceTime with a piece of paper behind the camera :)
Rating: 3 Votes
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BimmerJP
82 months ago

So, how long until we get a VoiceTime? As in FaceTime but without the video, meaning voice over data. Any predictions?


It's already here :) Just make a FaceTime call, and after the call is connected, just go back to home screen or turn the display off. This will pause the video. It is what I do all the time actually :D
Rating: 3 Votes
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Macman74
82 months ago

This is not working for me. I have the unlimited plan and I restarted my iPhone 5. Interestingly during an online chat with an AT&T representative, they said an iPhone5 user should be able to tether free of charge, this also doesn't work. In both cases I get the message to contact AT&T.


That rep was full of _ _ _ _.
Rating: 3 Votes
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saving107
82 months ago

You could always make a VoiceTime from FaceTime:
use FaceTime with a piece of paper behind the camera :)


Or press the Home Button to turn the video off, but leave audio on.

I do this all the time, preferably with headphones.
Rating: 3 Votes

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