Mikey Campbell
While the wireless carrier will be providing FaceTime for free over its network, the catch is that subscribers will have to add sign up for the new Mobile Share data plans announced earlier in August.
Oddly, AT&T said iPhone owners can still use FaceTime for free on Wi-Fi networks, though that particular feature is not under the control of wireless providers.
From the statement:
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 CEO Randall Stephenson in July said it was "too early" to talk about FaceTime over the company's network. The statement was made in response to a error message discovered in Apple's iOS 6 beta, prompting speculation the service would be fee-based.
In a subsequent report, Sprint noted it would be offering the feature for free when the next-gen iOS 6 launches this fall.
Speculation that FaceTime would be offered over cellular networks first began when a warning message in iOS 5.5.1 regarding 3G network data settings appeared to hint at the unannounced service.
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105 Comments
*shrug* Bring it on.
The more they try to do stuff like this, the faster they're speeding themselves to their legal demise. Eventually everything they're doing here is going to come crashing down, people fired/jailed, monopolies torn apart, and they'll have only themselves to blame.
*shrug* Bring it on.
The more they try to do stuff like this, the faster they're speeding themselves to their legal demise. Eventually everything they're doing here is going to come crashing down, people fired/jailed, monopolies torn apart, and they'll have only themselves to blame.
How so?
They havent removed any features. If you want to add new ones you have to be in their new plan.
F@*% AT&T. Talk about actively trying to drive away customers! Charge for something that should be included as part of the data package...makes perfect sense. Are they going to charge other video apps/providers as well??
I honestly don't see how this is legal. Apple introduces a new feature and AT&T is deciding *for us* how we can use OUR data that we paid for. There is absolutely no difference on AT&T's end whether I'm pulling from two 2GB plans instead of a 4GB bucket. This is nothing more than a move to try and get people off unlimited plans.
Would it be OK if U-Verse or Charter (or whatever internet carriers are out there) told you that you can only view certain webpages or use certain programs if you sign up for their new internet plans?
How so?
Pretending that data isn't data isn't data isn't data is a slope covered in axle grease, banana peels, marbles, and anti-friction spray.