AppleInsider Staff
AT&T announced on Thursday that it will enable FaceTime video calls for iPhone 5 users with any AT&T Mobile Share plan, expanding it beyond customers with its new shared data plans.
FaceTime over cellular will also be available to users of Apples third- and fourth-generation iPad, as well as the new iPad mini, running iOS 6. FaceTime over cellular will officially be available for any LTE device on any tiered data plan when the service launches in the next 8 to 10 weeks.
The only users who will be left out of FaceTime over cellular will be those with legacy unlimited data plans. AT&T transitioned to capped data plans in 2010, and this year began offering shared data plans.
AT&T also said it will make FaceTime over cellular available to deaf and hard of hearing customers who qualify for special text and data-only packages.
In an effort to encourage users to switch to its Mobile Share data plans, and also to limit bandwidth use on its network, AT&T originally chose to limit FaceTime over cellular calls to customers who subscribed to its Mobile Share plans. After facing criticism, AT&T defended its decision by arguing it did not violate the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules.
But AT&T's chief rival, Verizon, allows all iPhone 5 users to make FaceTime calls over cellular data connections, and did not limit access to its shared data plan customers. But Verizon's plan goes one step further and allows video calls on any data allowance tier, including legacy unlimited plans.
Amber Neely
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Chip Loder
36 Comments
Ummm, I don't see a link to the official AT&T announcement, just backlinks to older AI articles? Shouldn't there be a source link/source cited?
B**tards! I like my unlimited plan! (at least its something, now where's the free tethering?)
When does unlimited not mean unlimited? This is ridiculous. I paid for an unlimited #@$$ plan. That is what I should get!
You know what's funny... I have AT&T and a Mobile Sharing plan, and I can't get Factime to work at all. It never connects. Never. It's really frustrating and no one seems to have an answer. I can't even find a person who successfully makes facetime cellular connections... so I have no idea if my problem is widespread or not. No one seems to know or care.
B**tards! I like my unlimited plan!
(at least its something, now where's the free tethering?)
The article said the only people who don't get the plan are the unlimited... so it isn't something- it's nothing for us unlimited folks.... still. No FaceTime and no Tethering. Tethering- I don't like, but I understand. FaceTime... I don't understand.