Beginning this fall with iOS 12, FaceTime will support audio and video calls with as many as 32 simultaneous participants. Members will be able to drop in and out of group call as necessary, much like an ongoing conference call.

The announcement could be a blow to dedicated conference call services like Zoom, as smaller organizations may choose to rely on the the built-in FaceTime rather than paying for a more feature-filled service.

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On more populated video calls, the FaceTime app will automatically focus on and enlarge the "tiles" of users, and vary the size of individual tiles when someone else talks. You can also choose to lock focus on a certain user, and apply filter effects, Animoji, and the new Memoji to yourself while live on a call.

Group FaceTime will work on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and you can answer on audio using the Apple Watch.

Top Rated Comments

newyorksole Avatar
97 months ago
32 people? That almost seems excessive. It doesn’t appear to be a feature I will never find useful.
Maybe, just MAYBE there are people/companies who need to video chat with that many people... Even though YOU think it’s excessive.

Obviously the majority of people will use it with 2-4 people.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
97 months ago
That’s exciting but I don’t know the reason for me to have 32 people on chat like this.

Maybe someday I’ll need it.
Support for up to 32 people. Doesn't require it. While not for you, I'm sure others may have a desire to FT with 3, 4, 8, 15, or 31 others. For those people, this will be great.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Princejb134 Avatar
97 months ago
highlight of the show GROUP FACETIME!!!!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Princejb134 Avatar
97 months ago
That’s exciting but I don’t know the reason for me to have 32 people on chat like this.

Maybe someday I’ll need it.
well if they limit it to 3-4 people there will always be those complainers that will say how come i cant do 5.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
97 months ago
Maybe, just MAYBE there are people/companies who need to video chat with that many people... Even though YOU think it’s excessive..
Good point. For example, I didn’t think about utilizing maybe a corporation that has to have some sort a type of group meeting that might have employees that are scattered about and then having them congregate through group FaceTime, probably would be beneficial.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MDF314159265 Avatar
97 months ago
Brady bunch FaceTime!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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