FaceTime video calling added to iPhone 4... and it's WiFi-only

That front-facing camera on the new iPhone 4 and a flood of leaks were a dead giveaway -- the new FaceTime app brings video calling to the iPhone. Unfortunately, it's WiFi-only at the moment, as Steve says Apple needs to work with carriers to support it on 3G. The FaceTime app is pretty cool -- you can flip the image between the front and rear cameras and between portrait and landscape orientation, and the video call system is built on open standards like SIP, H.264, and AAC so it'll work with other video calling apps as well.

FaceTime video calling added to iPhone 4

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[jarobusa Posted Jun 7th 2010 4:26PM]

@iferfriend they want you to upgrade next year to get the camera on the iPad. Apple is famous for this. Incremental upgrades.

[Runkle Posted Jun 7th 2010 4:49PM]

@iferfriend But they also have the advantage of bringing something new to the table at the moment -- a smooth user experience in this new tablet format. And delaying features like this is a luxury they can afford.

If Apple was the underdog in the tablet arena, they would have all the camera + multitasking + USB ports + 4G goodness at first launch.

[gambiting Posted Jun 7th 2010 4:26PM]

I did that on my Nokia 6280 three years ago,over 3G, regardless of carrier used. Also,the price of video calls is the same as standard voice calls here in Poland.


What is the revolution here,Apple?

[uckApple Posted Jun 23rd 2010 9:39AM]

@gambiting

Heres what Apple does..

Apple takes regular features, and puts them on SPEED.

Within a few months, FaceTime, the video chat, will be on almost every single platform.

Why?

Because Apples products sell in the 10 Millions.

Does your N98?

[terrytz Posted Jun 7th 2010 4:43PM]

How about a 3G mobile wi-fi router + facetime?

[Runkle Posted Jun 7th 2010 4:45PM]

FaceTime is the new SexyTime.

[iferfriend Posted Jun 7th 2010 4:46PM]

Apple stays with AT&T because the only other gsm carrier in the US worth anything is t-mobile, verizon and sprint still running cdma, The rest of the world uses gsm, Apple is looking for global coverage, not just the US.........Facetime is Apples answer to bbm (only works on blkberry), how many millions of Iphone 4's do you think they will sell?? so you'll be able to video chat with anyone WORLDWIDE who has one and a wifi connection for FREE, think of the possibilities, next year the iPad will have Facetime and a camera, so add a few more million people to the fold, whats wrong with FREE video chat with millions of iPhone users around the world???

[nikster Posted Jun 8th 2010 6:12AM]

@iferfriend there is nothing wrong with it. And you are spot on! This is Apple's BBM (though I wonder why they don't just copy BBM, call it iBBM or something)...

[jonbruc Posted Jun 7th 2010 4:58PM]

How long before that image of Steve winds up in the 1984 commercial?

[RynoB11 Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:28PM]

...jailbreak....its been done before it'll be done again...problem solved

[rcoito Posted Jun 7th 2010 8:23PM]

In January 2005 i made my first video call with a Sony Ericsson Z1010 in Portugal on the Vodafone network, it didnt had hd quality but worked good. Today, almost 6 years later, Apple announces the most "advanced" smartphone on the market that is able to do video calls, wow, amazing feature, wait a minute... only on a wifi network? LOL

[MaTdg Posted Jun 7th 2010 8:39PM]

@rcoito So true.

I had my first phone with frontcam in 2004. It didn't even have the videocalling feature, it wasn't an advanced smartphone. But still, I could use it to take pictures or record video from myself without mirror.

I bought my first smartphone in 2007 and had my first videocall the same year. Integrated in the phone, no apps or 3rth party involved. Videocall using the operator's 3G network with symbian s60v3's integrated videocalling feature.

I thought apple would make videocalling popular again so phones would include frontcams. But with the iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 and wifi only restrictions.. They disappoint me big time and I believe it will never come for free either now. (On my operator a 3G videocall is the same price as a normal call).

[benchase7 Posted Jun 7th 2010 8:34PM]

WiFi only really is a joke. but i guess even if they enabled it on 3G you would still kinda be screwed since you are relying on ATT's pathetic network.

[MaTdg Posted Jun 7th 2010 8:45PM]

@benchase7 Okay true, but I live in Europe in a country where we have 7.2Mbps 3G networks. That's faster than sprints 4G network! Why do I have to be locked on wifi only?

On a side note: it's the same with tethering: my operator allows me to tether with my normal prepaid phone plan. Even more, it encourages tethering. Yet one day apple decided that tethering couln't be used by anyone anymore.

[benchase7 Posted Jun 7th 2010 11:40PM]

@MaTdg

are you for real? it would really suck to have to be in range of WiFi in order to use the video chat.

[jawman Posted Jun 8th 2010 1:22PM]

@MaTdg
And those are perfect reasons why you learned to avoid Apple.

[holyalien Posted Jun 8th 2010 3:41AM]

ok,now i see...
first,apple locked bluetooth file transfer and then everyone else followed (bluetooth file transfer was invented before iphone...)
now the descover video-calls.and they f#cked it.they found a way to block it by enabling Wi-Fi-only video-calls!!! FFS!!!! Now,everybody else will re-discover video-calls and they will enable only for wi-fi!!!
Long live Moto A3100!!!Everything is allowed and free :D

[therandygoat Posted Jun 8th 2010 5:53AM]

I'm kinda glad it's over wifi, at least for now. This means no extra charge from your provider, and you get a sweet looking image :) I'm almost always in a wifi spot, so it's not really a big deal.

[jawman Posted Jun 8th 2010 1:20PM]

Am I the only one who thinks the name "FaceTime" is an epic fail?

[KrazyCalvin Posted Jun 8th 2010 2:39PM]

Is it just me or does Facetime sound like something you would find in a hardcore porn shop.