AppleInsider Staff
Following the debut of Apple's iPhone 5 on Wednesday, Verizon wireless announced that it will allow all iPhone 5 data plan subscribers to use iOS 6's FaceTime over cellular, countering rival carrier AT&T's plan which limits the feature to the company's Mobile Share data plans.
FaceTime video calling over cellular networks will be enabled when iOS 6 launches on Sept. 19, however U.S. wireless operators have differing views on how to charge customers who use the data-hungry feature.
In a press release regarding the iPhone 5, Verizon said customers wanting to use the voice calling feature can do so on any data allowance tier, including existing unlimited plans. FaceTime over cellular will apparently not be available for existing iPhone 4S users.
From the release:
Customers purchasing iPhone 5 will also want to purchase a Share Everything Plan beginning at $40 monthly access and $50 monthly account access that includes unlimited voice, unlimited text, picture and video messaging, and a data plan that can be shared with up to 10 devices on a single account. And, customers wanting to use FaceTime on their iPhone 5 can do so using any Verizon Wireless data plan allowance.
Sprint also said that it would not be imposing any restrictions on FaceTime use.
AT&T, however, announced in August that it would be restricting FaceTime over 3G and 4G networks to iPhone users who sign up for the company's new Mobile Share data plans. The carrier subsequently released a public letter defending the move, saying that it was within its rights to block the app's access because it doesn't offer its own video chat service.
Pre-orders for Apple's iPhone 5 will begin on Sept. 14, with shipments to follow a week later on Sept. 21.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
32 Comments
You suck AT&T. I don't have an unlimited plan yet I still can't use FaceTime over cellular unless I switch to a data sharing plan which - yes - does cost more.
Unlike AT&T who complains and moans over the terrible iPhone people who are data whores.
Does any one see Verizon out selling iPhone's over AT&T in the next months? I honestly think AT&T needs to be brought to it's knees. By their practices they seem to be achieving that goal themselves. My god man. I have started to see Sprint as being the better, and I hate sprint. YUK!
I think that FaceTime will be a normal mode for placing calls. Only time will tell. I don't see it when your driving. Other wise I see it as normal. And voice calls will be secondary. It's just a matter of time for the cell companies allow it. It must be popular because AT&T is complaining.
I have ATT now, on September 14th, I won't. Getting tired of all their restrictions.
Does Verizon even have an Unlimited plan? I don't believe they do.
Another reason to give the finger to AT&T