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AT&T bringing FaceTime over cellular calls to all customers?
AT&T may be quietly enabling FaceTime over cellular for customers on unlimited data plans, according to a report in MacRumors. AT&T originally limited cellular FaceTime to customers on the carrier's new shared data plans. After a public outcry, AT&T later expanded FaceTime to customers who are connected to the carrier's 4G LTE network and have either a tiered or shared plan. MacRumors forum user kre62 noticed that his iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 now support FaceTime over cellular even though he is on an unlimited plan. Several other users in the MacRumors thread confirmed this report, and BGR also claims its two iPhone 5 handsets have FaceTime enabled on unlimited data plans. AT&T has not announced that it is activating cellular FaceTime service for unlimited data plans, so it is possible that this is just a glitch. We have reached out to AT&T to confirm these reports and will update the post when we receive a response. [Editor's note: When we tried activating FaceTime on an iPhone 5 with an unlimited data plan it popped up the familiar warning to call AT&T and purchase a plan that supported the feature so at this time we cannot confirm this is happening on any large scale.] To check if FaceTime over cellular is now available on your iPhone, you should first reboot your iPhone for the service to go into effect. Then open Settings > General > Cellular and scroll down to see if the FaceTime toggle is on. If it is on, then you should be able to initiate a FaceTime call over AT&T's cellular connection.
iPhone FaceTime over cellular for AT&T now available for some, even without LTE?
AT&T's decision to let only its customers on shared and new data plans pick up FaceTime over cellular may have riled some, but at least it's been able to roll-out the functionality earlier than the two-month window suggested in early November. MacRumors' forums are abuzz with word that their iOS devices (mostly on the East Coast) are now able to make FaceTime calls without WiFi. Perhaps more importantly, according to these early reports, you might not have to wield an LTE iDevice to use it, with several non-4G devices running iOS 6 able to stream faces elsewhere. If you're still getting the pop-up of misery (seen above), forum users suggesting switching your phone off and on again.
iTunes Match down for many
After a brief outage yesterday that affected iMessage and FaceTime, Apple's iTunes match service is now apparently down for some iOS and Mac users this morning. As noticed by AppleInsider, iTunes Match content stored in the cloud just stalls at 0:00 without any error message. Apple's iCloud system status webpage says all services are online, but this may change if the outage continues or becomes more widespread.
AT&T to allow FaceTime on non-shared data plans, but only on LTE devices
After ruffling plenty of feathers back in August when it announced that FaceTime over cellular would only be available to users on its Mobile Share data plans, AT&T has decided to loosen those restrictions a bit. Today, the carrier announced that customers on its new tiered data plans will be able to use FaceTime on its network, but only if they have LTE-capable devices. This means that customers who still have grandfathered-in unlimited data plans are still out of luck if they'd like to FaceTime without using WiFi. Also, owners of non-LTE devices -- so, basically anything before the iPhone 5 and the third-generation iPad -- need not apply. You don't need to have LTE service for your device, however, which is at least some good news for those who don't live in AT&T's LTE coverage areas. If you meet the new criteria, you'll be able to start using FaceTime over cellular on AT&T in eight to 10 weeks. [via Engadget]
AT&T decides to offer FaceTime over cellular, but only on LTE devices with tiered data plans (update: sometimes on 3G)
Well, it's no secret that AT&T ruffled some feathers with its decision to make FaceTime over cellular available only to those on shared data plans. After what we can only assume was some deep soul searching, the carrier has shifted gears... a little. Now you'll be able to fire up the video chat app on your iOS 6 device over LTE, so long as you're on one of the new tiered data plans. If you're still rockin' one of those unlimited data plans -- or if you're unable to hop onto LTE due to device choice or locale -- you're still out of luck. The company explained the decision to initially limit the availability of the feature was due to the number of iPhones on its network. In other words, it didn't think its infrastructure was ready to handle a sudden surge of video calls. FaceTime over cellular will slowly become available to those on Ma Bell's tiered data plans over the next eight to ten weeks. For a few more details, check out the PR after the break. Update: AT&T tells us that you don't need to be actively using LTE, just have a device that supports it. That's an odd way to partition customers, although it does mean that there's more of a safety net for areas where LTE isn't widespread.
Logitech announces $200 Broadcaster WiFi webcam for iPhone, iPad and Mac (video)
After trying (and failing) to surreptitiously shepherd it through the FCC, then seeing it leak out anyway, Logitech has formally outed the HD WiFi Broadcaster webcam. The 720P shooter (not 1080p as we hoped) allows wireless transmission from 50 feet away to any Mac computer, iPhone or iPad, instant broadcasting on Ustream and the ability to toggle between your device or computer's built in camera with a button push. The hard plastic carrying case with a magnetic lid doubles as a stand to elevate the cam, which Logitech says will "play nicely" with apps like iMovie, Final Cut Pro and FaceTime. Broadcaster is already up for preorder for $200 in the US and €180 in Europe, so if you want to show that you're doubly beautiful with a multi-cam Skype call, the PR and video are after the break.
iOS 6: FaceTime over cellular
With iOS 6, FaceTime gets a feature that it arguably should have had from day one: FaceTime now works over a cellular connection, not just WiFi. That's assuming you have the right device, and assuming your carrier allows FaceTime over 3G/LTE without making you jump through hoops first. *cough*AT&T*cough* Even though the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 WiFi + 3G model both have 3G and FaceTime capabilities, for some reason only the third-generation iPad, iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 have been blessed with FaceTime over 3G capabilities. There's been no word why the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 don't get this feature, and it's doubtful they'll get it later down the line. If you're unfortunate enough to be an AT&T customer, there's yet another artificial obstacle to your FaceTime over cellular bliss: you have to be on a Mobile Share data plan, which are hit or miss as to whether they actually save consumers money or not. If you're not with AT&T, and your mobile data provider isn't out to deliberately make it difficult to actually use your phone's features on their network, you'll be away laughing on FaceTime after setting the "Use Mobile Data" toggle in FaceTime's settings. In my own testing, FaceTime over 3G works pretty much the same as it does over WiFi. FaceTime calls get pushed to your device automatically so long as you have coverage; I forgot I even had this activated until I got a FaceTime call from my dad while I was dropping my bike off at the shop. Audio and video quality are both great over 3G, and video quality in particular seems subjectively better than what I get via Skype over the same connection. I had decent 3G coverage while testing FaceTime on both my iPhone and iPad, so I never experienced any lag, stuttering, dropped calls or other issues. Keep in mind this is a video call from a cafe in central New Zealand made to my father's house in Tennessee. Living in the future is awesome. Now the big question I'm sure has been on your mind all this time: how much data does all this use? Surprisingly, not as much as you might think. A 47-minute FaceTime call over 3G on my iPad used only about 65 megabytes. That's still over 10 percent of my monthly data allowance on that device (New Zealand telcos are very stingy with their data). However, I'm not going to be making FaceTime calls of that length very often when I'm away from my home or work WiFi, so the hit to my data isn't concerning. Bottom line: don't expect to spend hours upon hours on FaceTime every month without taking a big hit to your data allowance, but short calls here and there aren't a big deal. Whether or not you feel comfortable taking a FaceTime call in public is up to you, but at least now in iOS 6 you have the option.
Advocacy groups notify AT&T of net neutrality complaint with the FCC over FaceTime restrictions
Public advocacy groups aren't all that impressed with AT&T's justifications for limiting FaceTime access over 3G and 4G to those who spring for its costlier Mobile Share plans. Free Press, Public Knowledge and the Open Technology Institute have served formal notice to AT&T that they plan to file a net neutrality complaint with the FCC within 10 days. It's not hard to understand why, given the groups' existing pro-neutrality stances: the Free Press' policy lead Matt Wood argues that the carrier is unfairly pushing iOS users into plans they don't need, a particularly sore point for iPad-only customers that have no AT&T phones to share. We've reached out to AT&T for comment, although we're not expecting a change from its position that allowing app use over WiFi makes its restrictions okay. As for the FCC? It's mum on the current situation. A literal reading of its net neutrality rules, however, doesn't include a WiFi exemption and might not favor AT&T when Skype video is allowed and Verizon has no problems with unrestricted access.
Net neutrality complaint to be filed against AT&T for blocking FaceTime on all but shared data plans
If you didn't see this coming, you haven't been paying attention. After AT&T explained how blocking FaceTime wasn't a violation of Net Neutrality because "pre-loaded" apps are excluded and apparently WiFi counts as part of the equation, some consumer groups are coming together to challenge AT&T's assertion. Free Press, Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute have announced an intent to file a complaint with the FCC. Note they haven't filed it yet -- this is sort of a warning shot across the bow. I doubt AT&T will budge, but we'll have to wait a while to see what the FCC decides, too. AT&T does allow FaceTime over cellular if you are on a shared data plan. I am not, so I plan to use FaceTime with my AT&T iPhone 5 by connecting to my Verizon iPad 3, which will be used as a WiFi hotspot. I'm not really concerned about the ability of my primary carrier to build up a network that can handle the technology it has decided to deploy to its customers -- I just want to FaceTime with my son when he's at his mom's house. I'm guessing a lot of customers want their tech to "just work" as well.
AT&T: iPhone 4S users won't get discounted pricing for the iPhone 5
Numerous readers have written in to tell us that AT&T is not offering them upgrade pricing for the iPhone 4S to the iPhone 5. The iPhone 4S went on sale in mid-October of 2011, so even those in the first round of buyers are only midway through a two-year contract. Domestically, you can check your individual account status via Apple's iPhone 5 eligibility page, covering all three US carriers. In other countries, there should be similar carrier check-in links on the local version of store.apple.com. Customers who bought the 4S from AT&T signed on for a 24-month contract in exchange for a lower, subsidized purchase price for the phone (actual retail price $400 higher than what you paid, made up for over the life of the contract in service charges). It shouldn't be a big surprise that most aren't eligible for an upgrade barely a year later. What is causing the frustration is not policy but precedent: AT&T has offered upgrading pricing to many customers when the "new" iPhone came out, even to those who had purchased last year's model and signed a two-year contract. However, this year AT&T seems to have decided not to make such an offer. At least one reader has been told by an AT&T representative that this policy change was dictated to the carrier by Apple, insisting that AT&T wait at least 18 months before offering users upgrade pricing. Consider me highly dubious of that claim. Oh, I believe that it's something that someone at AT&T might say but I don't believe that it's true that Apple is dictating AT&T policy. First of all, I can't see any reason why Apple wouldn't want as many people as possible to have the newest iPhone. Secondly, if Apple was capable of dictating AT&T's business decisions, I doubt that AT&T would be artificially restricting FaceTime over cellular. That being said, one reader wrote in to say that while he was told that his AT&T iPhone is not eligible for an upgrade, his AT&T iPad was, and so he could get upgrade pricing through his "iPad phone number." That's a little bit wacky -- the iPad's data connection may technically have a phone number, but it's not a voice contract and in fact is only a month-to-month plan. It sounds like while some AT&T customer service reps are trying to blame Apple for AT&T's policies, others might be trying to find ways to help their customers "work the system." Obviously your mileage may vary, but if you have an AT&T iPhone and an AT&T iPad and are anxious for the iPhone 5, it might be worth a call to see if that option is available to you. Users with multiple lines or family plans may find that an older phone is upgrade-eligible even if the 4S is not. Personally I have been on an "every other model" plan with the iPhone since the original. I had the original, skipped the 3G and upgraded to the 3GS. The 3GS was much better than the 3G, and a much better "leap forward" than the 3G was over the original iPhone. Likewise, when the iPhone 4 came out, I resisted the call of the Retina display and waited for the 4S. Again this year I'll watch the iPhone 5 pass me by and look forward to the "whatever they call the one after the iPhone 5" in a year.
Verizon to permit cellular FaceTime across all plans for iPhone 5
Here's good news for Verizon Wireless customers with an iPhone 5. The company has announced that it will permit FaceTime calls over its network across all plans. In a recent press release, Verizon said, "Customers wanting to use FaceTime on their iPhone 5 can do so using any Verizon Wireless data plan allowance." Good news! Now you can have Jr. tell grandma about the home run he hit right from the field.
Verizon Wireless confirms FaceTime over cellular on all data plans
If you'll recall, AT&T was quick to inform users after WWDC that it would not be supporting FaceTime over Cellular on all of its data plans (you'll need a Mobile Share plan for it to work) when it launches as part of iOS6 on the 19th. Now Verizon has responded, confirming in its iPhone 5 press release that the feature is welcome on any data plan allowance. Of course, your usual data restrictions will still apply so we wouldn't leave those 720p backside illuminated cameras streaming for too long. If you're the type to set your watch by iPhone launches, the press release also mentions Friday at 3AM ET is the time when they'll be available for preorder on the website, check the rest of the details after the break.
AT&T responds to FaceTime criticism, says you should be happy just to have apps at all
In a move that will surprise no one, AT&T released a statement regarding FaceTime on its cellular network. Apple announced FaceTime over cellular at WWDC, but AT&T this month was quick to point out that only its Mobile Share customers will be able to use Apple's video chat tool. There appears to be no restrictions on Skype, Google+, ooVoo, Yahoo Messenger, IM+, Fring, etc. Why? Because none of those apps are pre-installed on your iPhone, whereas FaceTime is. You see, after AT&T was called to the mat over net neutrality (which would mandate AT&T treat FaceTime data the same as all those other apps which will work just fine on my unlimited data plan), it cleverly pointed out that net neutrality doesn't apply because FaceTime is not only pre-installed, but is obviously "subject to some reasonable restrictions." AT&T goes even further, in my opinion. Not content to flick customers with their white glove, they add a little spit by informing us irate customers that AT&T is not legally obligated to allow your iPhone to have any preloaded apps at all. From AT&T's statement: "Indeed, the rules do not require that providers make available any preloaded apps. Rather, they address whether customers are able to download apps that compete with our voice or video telephony services." In the next paragraph they point out how lucky we all are! "Although the rules don't require it, some preloaded apps are available without charge on phones sold by AT&T, including FaceTime, but subject to some reasonable restrictions." See, we poor stupid iPhone owners are just lucky that we're even able to walk into an Apple Store and buy an AT&T phone with any apps on it at all. I mean, it's not like we have a choice in carrier these days. Can you imagine this being said while Steve Jobs was alive? Can you imagine how customers would respond if AT&T iPhones had no pre-installed apps? You can make your own joke about the efficacy of the Phone app on AT&T's network, I'll just be over here making sure no one tells them about Mobile Safari. By the way, FaceTime was downloaded after I signed up for AT&T service, although it obviously only started working once I moved from a 3GS to an iPhone 4. I'm not sure if AT&T counts this download since it was part of an OS update. Look, it's obviously what's going on here. Bean counters at AT&T decided the churn from lost customers was worth the added cost of lingering unlimited data customers like me. I've already been denied tethering (don't worry, I bought a Verizon iPad), and this is the last straw for me. AT&T clearly needs to bolster its network, and is happy to do that on the backs of clueless customers who are content to lump all their data needs together and be nickel-and-dimed over niceties like texting. As a divorced dad, my son likes to call me to chat every night he's not with me. He prefers FaceTime (he has an iPod touch), and is bummed when we have to use Skype. Now I get to tell him (after telling him FaceTime would work over cellular) that because daddy is an AT&T customer, he can't use FaceTime over cellular still. Oh wait, that won't happen because I'm switching to Verizon.
AT&T confesses: its network couldn't handle unchecked FaceTime over cellular
Well, at least no one can blame AT&T for dodging the core issue any longer. After watching Verizon Wireless snag satisfaction crown after satisfaction crown from AT&T over the years, it seems that the latter is finally using a highly defensive blog post on the issue of FaceTime over cellular in order to cop to what we've all known: AT&T's network is in no shape to handle the glut of devices currently running on it. After being taken by storm in 2007 with the iPhone, AT&T has been racing to right the supply / demand curve, and it came to a head once more last week when the operator announced that only Mobile Share users would be able to use FaceTime over its 3G / 4G airwaves once iOS 6 hit. Naturally, pundits were quick to slam the company for implementing a policy that nudges existing users with grandfathered unlimited data plans to slide up to a plan that's potentially less awesome, but a lengthy letter on AT&T's Public Policy Blog lays out the real reason. The company makes clear that the decision to limit FaceTime over cellular to Mobile Share customers does not violate the FCC's net neutrality rules -- after all, it's being decidedly transparent about the frowned-upon choice -- nor does it cross the line on any "blocking" issues. Its argument is simple: it's not blocking you from using any video chat application you want, but it is exercising its right to manage the doors through which all chat applications can and can't be used. The money quote is here: "We are broadening our customers' ability to use the preloaded version of FaceTime but limiting it in this manner to our newly developed AT&T Mobile Share data plans out of an overriding concern for the impact this expansion may have on our network and the overall customer experience." Despite our scorn, we're halfway glad the policy is in place -- after all, how would you feel if you couldn't load a vital email because everyone else on the block was chatting with their mum about chimera cats on FaceTime? Rock, meet hard place.
Could AT&T's blockage of FaceTime be an FCC violation?
Yesterday, TUAW noted that AT&T is planning on blocking Apple's iOS 6 FaceTime video calling app over cellular service except for those individuals who have signed up for one of the company's new "Mobile Share" plans. A few websites are now wondering aloud if AT&T's plans to proceed in that direction could be in violation of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) rules on network neutrality. According to a USA Today Technology Live post, those rules say that "Internet providers may not block content, applications or sites that compete with their services." In that post, John Bergmayer of Public Knowledge stated that "Although carriers are permitted to engage in 'reasonable network management,' there is no technical reason why one data plan should be able to access FaceTime, and another not." Not surprisingly, one group is already taking action by publishing an online petition that it hopes will force the FCC to look into AT&T's FaceTime plans. The petition created by Free Press states, among other things, that "customers will be forced to pay extra for something they won't use -- minutes and texts -- just to access FaceTime over the mobile Internet." AT&T is sticking to its guns, telling Ars Technica blogger Jacqui Cheng that "FaceTime is available to all of our customers today over Wi-Fi. And we're now expanding its availability even further as an added benefit of our new Mobile Share data plans." What's your personal opinion of AT&T requiring a Mobile Share data plan in order to access FaceTime? Leave your comments below.
FaceTime over cellular from AT&T will only be available to Mobile Share customers
AT&T announced on Friday that it will offer FaceTime over Cellular at no additional cost to customers who are subscribed to a Mobile Share plan, says a report in Engadget. Customers who stay on a grandfathered unlimited plan or a tiered plan will be limited to using FaceTime over a WiFi connection. AT&T's released the following statement to the media: AT&T will offer FaceTime over Cellular as an added benefit of our new Mobile Share data plans, which were created to meet customers' growing data needs at a great value. With Mobile Share, the more data you use, the more you save. FaceTime will continue to be available over Wi-Fi for all our customers. AT&T's Mobile Share plans will be available on August 23 and will let customers buy a bucket of data that can be shared among multiple devices. AT&T will charge customers a flat fee for their data allotment and an additional charge for each device they add to a plan. Customers with an iPhone and iPad on the lowest plan of 1 GB will pay $95 plus taxes each month ($40 for 1 GB of data, $45 for their iPhone and $10 for their iPad).
AT&T: FaceTime over cellular feature to be included in Mobile Share plans at no extra charge, not available for other data plans
AT&T is offering a bit of clarification on the rumors involving a standalone feature offering FaceTime over Cellular for an additional charge: the iOS6 feature (due out this fall) will actually be included at no extra cost, but only for those customers who opt for the Mobile Share plans. Anyone on the grandfathered unlimited data plans or traditional tiered offerings will only be able to rely on the good 'ol WiFi whenever they feel the urge to use Apple's video chat service. From the looks of it, it seems that AT&T is hoping to conserve the amount of network bandwidth that would be chewed up by unlimited customers, while also having it function as a value-added feature for its newest shared data plans. In terms of usage, this FaceTime capability will use up part of your data allotment (instead of minutes). So, the good news is that the feature is free -- the bad news is that it won't make unlimited users any happier. Find AT&T's official statement below.
Sprint won't charge for 3G FaceTime
One new feature that iOS 6 brings to the table is FaceTime calling over 3G. The fact that it runs on a cellular network puts carriers in the position of potentially regulating the video calling app. Unlike AT&T which is on the fence, Sprint has confirmed it will not charge for access to the service, according to Electronista. A spokesperson said Sprint remains "committed to our unlimited data, and that means not charging for data consumption based on the application." Verizon Wireless, the third major carrier in the US to sell the iPhone, has not publicly commented.
AT&T responds to rumor of paid 3G FaceTime
FaceTime over 3G will finally bring Apple's video calling tech to cellular networks, but will it cost you extra? According to AT&T's CEO, "it's too early to talk about pricing." I'm guessing that's business talk for "we'll see if it costs us too much money to support and then decide." Remember unlimited data plans? My kids won't. iOS 6 promises FaceTime over 3G, but here's hoping it won't cost AT&T customers extra. All I know is Google (G+) and Microsoft (Skype) have had video calls over cellular for a little while now and it'll be great for Apple to finally catch up.
AT&T CEO responds to paid 3G FaceTime rumor, says it's 'too early' to talk pricing
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson has responded to rumors that Ma Bell plans to add an additional levy upon those planning to use FaceTime over cellular. Speaking at the Fortune Brainstorm conference, he's quoted as saying that he "heard the same rumor," but that it was "too early to talk about pricing." Of course, given that response, it looks like the company has at least been mulling an additional levy for the feature. At present, he says his primary focus is to work with Apple on ensuring the video calling technology works smoothly across his company's data network, with iOS 6 due to arrive later this year.
