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AT&T to Enable Facetime, Other Video Chat by End 2013

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AT&T to allow all video chatting services, including Apple's Facetime, on its cellular network by the end of 2013.


iPhone users rejoice! AT&T has finally divulged that they are enabling Facetime for all of their customers by the end of 2013. Previously, the service between Apple's iPhone 4, 4S and 5 has only been accessible to consumers using WiFi. Now AT&T has given a statement to Verge confirming that soon, all of their consumers will be able to enjoy face-to-face calling on their mobile networks.

The initial problem with allowing Facetime to work over cellular networks is that the service would consume a lot of bandwidth and possibly reduce the quality of service for other users as well. However, now the service is already available to select users, most of who have an unlimited data plan with the company and uses the 4G LTE networks when doing so. Tell us what you think of face-to-face video chatting. Is there any hope for services similar to Apple's Facetime, or will this trend go the way of video/visual voice mails?

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • brandonjclark
    Great, now the worst network will get worse.
    Reply
  • ananke
    I use Skype video chat over TMobile data plan with Win8 phone. I don't remember ever had restriction like AT&T
    Reply
  • nevilence
    I have never seen the point in it, even for people I rarely see. Just never really been a fan of face to face over mobile, pc, tablet or anything else
    Reply
  • Mike Honcho
    "However, now the service is already available to select users, most of who have an unlimited data plan with the company and uses the 4G LTE networks when doing so."

    Umm. That is the exact opposite of my situation. Tom's I think you are incorrect here. They said the reason I CAN'T use facetime over 4G is because I have an unlimited plan. They tried to get me on a shared or tiered plan in order to use it. Of course I told them where they can put their tiered plans.

    BTW you can just jailbreak your phone and get a tweak called 3G unrestrictor (works for 4g too) and it will trick your phone into thinking it's on wifi when it's actually on cellular data. Voila!
    Reply
  • catfishtx
    Of course AT&T enables Face Time now that most of its users are NOT on unlimited plans and it can charge for the overage. Good job! That was not obvious at all.
    Reply
  • Osmin
    How about letting the people that do not have an unlimited data plan the ability to tether.
    Reply