24 replies to this topic

[still1]

Quote

Apple's FaceTime video chat service may have been Wi-Fi-only since its inception, but that means it's also been free all along. This could change come the launch of iOS 6, however — the introduction of FaceTime calling over 3G could well be accompanied by charges for the first time. 9to5Mac has acquired screenshots from the recently-released iOS 6 beta 3 that seem to show FaceTime over cellular networks requiring activation (read: a contract bolt-on) in a similar way to the Personal Hotspot feature. Attempting to use 3G calling on an iPhone reportedly brings up an error message imploring the user to contact AT&T to have the feature enabled, though 9to5Mac's iPad worked without running into the issue.
If true, this would raise all sorts of questions as to how AT&T plans to handle its customers' data allowances. A flat rate for unlimited FaceTime calling could undoubtedly result in some hefty packet consumption, and the real question then would be if FaceTime data counts towards users' bandwidth caps. If so, people might find themselves needing a higher data plan on top of the extra FaceTime charges, but if not it'd raise the issue of AT&T's adherence to net neutrality principles — Comcast has come under fire recently for letting its customers use the Xfinity video service without it counting towards their download limits. Were AT&T to implement a similar policy, it could have far-reaching implications for Skype and other services with customers that currently have to deal with managing their data.

http://www.theverge....e-calls-over-3g

[Xilo]

And yet you can already do this for free by just jailbreaking.

[shockz]

Xilo, on 17 July 2012 - 14:28, said:

And yet you can already do this for free by just jailbreaking.

You can do a lot over jailbreaking... tethering for example. That doesn't stop AT&T from detecting this and sending you nasty letters and/or eventually charging you and disabling your data.

[ILikeTobacco]

If this means it doesn't get charged against your data usage, I would be all for it. Wouldn't want to use Facetime over 3G if it counted against my data rate because I only use 200 mb currently anyway and don't want to have to up that also just to use this.

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

Xilo, on 17 July 2012 - 14:28, said:

And yet you can already do this for free by just jailbreaking.

could also bypass Tethering through jailbreaking, AT&T will also detect it and block/charge you. they do the same thing to rooted Androids that have the enabling apps to bypass.

ILikeTobacco, on 17 July 2012 - 14:34, said:

If this means it doesn't get charged against your data usage, I would be all for it. Wouldn't want to use Facetime over 3G if it counted against my data rate because I only use 200 mb currently anyway and don't want to have to up that also just to use this.

how is Full Stream video NOT going to go against your data usage.

[+-T-]

Why is there a 4G symbol & the iPad orientation lock, notifier in the taskbar?

[+McKay]

Because AT&T class their service as 4G and got Apple to change the logo for AT&T iPhones.

[neufuse]

shockz, on 17 July 2012 - 14:30, said:

You can do a lot over jailbreaking... tethering for example. That doesn't stop AT&T from detecting this and sending you nasty letters and/or eventually charging you and disabling your data.

which they have done to people in the past!

[.Neo]

I'm glad they passed a law in the Netherlands saying carriers can't themselves charge money for software services otherwise offered for free.

[thealexweb]

-T-, on 17 July 2012 - 14:36, said:

Why is there a 4G symbol & the iPad orientation lock, notifier in the taskbar?

Because for marketing reasons AT&T bullied Apple to change it 4G, they should meet in the middle and market HSPA+ as 3G and LTE and WiMax as 3.5G, LTE-Evolution can then be called 4G.

[ILikeTobacco]

Hell-In-A-Handbasket, on 17 July 2012 - 14:34, said:

how is Full Stream video NOT going to go against your data usage.

If you are paying seperately for it as a service, thats how. Thats what this post is about after all.

[still1]

Its like paying ATT extra when your app use 3g data..

You paid for the data and you have the right to use it any way you want..
whats next??? charge extra for 3g data used in each app? ATT is really greedy.

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

ILikeTobacco, on 17 July 2012 - 16:38, said:

If you are paying seperately for it as a service, thats how. Thats what this post is about after all.

paying for the ability to use it is diffrent from paying for how much you can use it. the charge is more then likely to " unlock " the facetime over 3G ability.

but like Still said above, its still greedy of AT&T. pay already for a data plan, regardless if what devices uses the data, its still data, 1 and 0's.
had an argument with Sprint when i had a Winmobile 6.5 device, the email ability kept using the data plan ( that i didnt have ) instead of Wifi ( that i am always around ). suffice to say they refunded the charges, the phone, and within days changed the product page of the Intrepid and removed the Wifi listing.

Cell phone companies wil nickel and dime for anything.

[ILikeTobacco]

still1, on 17 July 2012 - 16:53, said:

Its like paying ATT extra when your app use 3g data..

You paid for the data and you have the right to use it any way you want..
whats next??? charge extra for 3g data used in each app? ATT is really greedy.

If they charge it against your minutes used instead, it would be the exact opposite of greedy and be the only carrier to have a real option for video chat. The limits we have on data across all the carriers makes it none practical and expensive. That is why I said, if at least it's not being charged against your data plan, this would be well worth it.

[ILikeTobacco]

Hell-In-A-Handbasket, on 17 July 2012 - 17:03, said:

paying for the ability to use it is diffrent from paying for how much you can use it. the charge is more then likely to " unlock " the facetime over 3G ability.

You are completely ignoring the context of my post and the real world situation. ATT has data limits that are way to low to make facetime usable on a daily basis over 3G. Hence my comment about seperating the two things. If I can pay for Facetime and it not count against my data plan, its a good idea that no other carrier has matched yet.