AT&T Seems to Be Extending FaceTime-Over-Cellular to All Customers

MacRumors · Nov 20, 2012, 11:24 PM

AT&T appears to be quietly extending FaceTime-Over-Cellular capabilities to all their iPhone customers. Earlier this month, AT&T announced that they would allow any customer "with an LTE device" on a "tiered data plan" to use iOS 6's FaceTime over Cellular feature.

This, however, excluded a number of customers, including those with grandfathered unlimited data plans as well as those with the iPhones 4S. (Note, iOS 6, itself, can only supports FaceTime-over-Cellular on the 4S, 5 and iPad 3rd Gen or higher)

Tonight, Forum user kre62 noticed that both his iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 with unlimited AT&T data plans now support FaceTime over cellular.

Quote:

In a recent thread we were discussing AT&T members getting facetime with LTE devices and tiered plans. However I noticed today that I have facetime over cellular and I have an unlimited plan on my 5.

I just turned off my other phone, a 4S and turned it back on, only to find the switch flipped to ON for facetime over cellular. Both phones work perfectly over cellular.

I also checked a few coworkers phones, all now have FT over cellular.

This finding has been confirmed by a number of users in this discussion thread -- though some users have been unable to activate it so it may still be rolling out to some areas. AT&T had said the original rollout for tiered plans could take 8-10 weeks. Most of the positive responses have been those with the iPhone 5 and grandfathered unlimited data, but the original poster also had luck with an iPhone 4S.

Some users have had to completely restart their phones for the service to go into effect. There still remains a possibility that this is an oversight on AT&T's part. We are reaching out to AT&T for clarification on their policy.

Article Link: AT&T Seems to Be Extending FaceTime-Over-Cellular to All Customers

SamGabbay · Nov 20, 2012, 11:25 PM

Works for me! Looks like AT&T is coming around just in time for the holidays.

Thanks AT&T... for this early Hanukkah present.

__________________
"Sometimes we do things, and then other things happen. Why? I'll let you know." - Me

mrsir2009 · Nov 20, 2012, 11:26 PM

How generous...

sazivad · 07:56 AM

It only took them this long to get on par with the other carriers.

saminator8 · Nov 20, 2012, 11:29 PM

I have a 4S with unlimited data on ATT. I restarted the phone and it still says I need to call ATT.

SamGabbay · Nov 20, 2012, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saminator8

I have a 4S with unlimited data on ATT. I restarted the phone and it still says I need to call ATT.

Where are you located? Most NYC customers are reporting success.

iBLAKEE · Nov 20, 2012, 11:32 PM

No luck here. iPhone 5 w/ unlimited.

saminator8 · Nov 20, 2012, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamGabbay

Where are you located? Most NYC customers are reporting success.

Colorado

ideal.dreams · 02:26 PM

So happy to hear this! Still tells me to call AT&T when I try to turn on FaceTime over cellular though. My area doesn't even have LTE so I imagine it'll take a while before I see it.

Edit: Rebooted my phone. When I went back in to settings, FaceTime over cellular was checked! Very pleased, AT&T. It's about time!

Edit 2: Scratch that. Just checked it again and it's unchecked and still tells me to call AT&T.

jweinraub · Nov 26, 2012, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamGabbay

Where are you located? Most NYC customers are reporting success.

I am in the NYC metro area (northern NJ) and have iPhone 5 with grandfathered unlimited, I rebooted and mine too says call AT&T... I hardly ever use Facetime, but its more the principle of the matter! I honestly rather have LTE in my neck of the woods!

TheKerryKid · Nov 21, 2012, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saminator8

I have a 4S with unlimited data on ATT. I restarted the phone and it still says I need to call ATT.

Same for me. When I restarted and went to the settings it was set to "on" for a second or two, but then changed itself to "off". When I switched it to on I got the same message as you did again. Am on a 4S with unlimited data.

ckelley · 11:31 PM

Still saying that I need to contact AT&T to activate this feature.

*sigh*

C'mon, Sprint, turn on LTE here in Austin so I can drop AT&T like a bad habit.

Edit: iPhone 4S with grandfathered Unlimited data plan.

AustinSTI · Nov 21, 2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckelley

Still saying that I need to contact AT&T to activate this feature.

*sigh*

C'mon, Sprint, turn on LTE here in Austin so I can drop AT&T like a bad habit.

Edit: iPhone 4S with grandfathered Unlimited data plan.

Same here in Austin on my 5...

theelysium · 01:42 PM

Not for me!

Correction!

I had to hard reset.. Home & lock.. Now it works! **** Yea!

After testing for a few days I have discovered not all the towers work. I think it's only on our new LTE towers, but I could be wrong... Idk!

I also found that FT over an AT&T Micro Cell now works. It did not work before. At my house the tower will not allow FT, but my M-Cell does!

I'm in Sacramento, CA

kockgunner · Nov 20, 2012, 11:37 PM

I always think Canadian carriers are behind the curve, but I have a 6GB plan and I have gotten Facetime over cellular since iOS 6. We've also been getting tethering for free.

Those 3 year plans are what get us.

bigrustyjc · Nov 20, 2012, 11:40 PM

Still not working for me either. I'm in st louis. I have an iphone 5 with unlimited.

arn · Nov 20, 2012, 11:41 PM

Someone else confirmed it working on a 4S:
https://twitter.com/CoryMoll/status/271125302002999296

arn

rico99 · Nov 20, 2012, 11:42 PM

Facetime Faied "Connect to a Wi-Fi network to use FaceTime".
iPhone4 running 5.1.1. Palo Alto, CA

Ihatefall · Nov 21, 2012, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rico99

Facetime Faied "Connect to a Wi-Fi network to use FaceTime".
iPhone4 running 5.1.1. Palo Alto, CA

iOS 5 doesn't support that, you'd have to upgrade. But you're on 5.1.1 just jailbreak it and get facebreak or MIFi and then you can take the limiter off of everything wifi restricted

Huracan · Nov 21, 2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rico99

Facetime Faied "Connect to a Wi-Fi network to use FaceTime".
iPhone4 running 5.1.1. Palo Alto, CA

Perhaps if you upgrade to 6.0.1

It works for me in iPhone 5 and 4S, both on 6.0.1, or try to reboot the phone. I have a grandfathered unlimited plan in the iPhone 5 line, and a grandfathered 200MB plan in the 4S.

ilovemyibook · Nov 21, 2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rico99

Facetime Faied "Connect to a Wi-Fi network to use FaceTime".
iPhone4 running 5.1.1. Palo Alto, CA

Please be joking. You need iOS 6 and a 4S or greater.

dacreativeguy · Nov 20, 2012, 11:44 PM

Works in SF!

krravi · Nov 20, 2012, 11:45 PM

Only for unlimited plans?

gbnyc · Nov 21, 2012, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theelysium

I had to hard reset.. Home & lock.. Now it works! **** Yea!

Same here. On unlimited data plan, iPhone 5, in NYC. Worked after hard reset.

Daremo · Nov 21, 2012, 12:57 AM

Reboot and hard reset, neither worked for me, here in Chicago.

Nov 20, 2012, 11:26 PM	#3
mrsir2009 macrumors 604 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Wellington, New Zealand	How generous... __________________ How to Prevent your Mac from Overheating
	11

Nov 20, 2012, 11:27 PM	#4
sazivad macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: New Jersey	It only took them this long to get on par with the other carriers. __________________ My devices: iPod touch, MacBook Air. • StarCraft II is a fun game. Last edited by sazivad; Nov 21, 2012 at 07:56 AM.
	3

Nov 20, 2012, 11:29 PM	#5
saminator8 macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2009	Still not working I have a 4S with unlimited data on ATT. I restarted the phone and it still says I need to call ATT.
	4

Nov 20, 2012, 11:33 PM	#9
ideal.dreams macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: OH	So happy to hear this! Still tells me to call AT&T when I try to turn on FaceTime over cellular though. My area doesn't even have LTE so I imagine it'll take a while before I see it. Edit: Rebooted my phone. When I went back in to settings, FaceTime over cellular was checked! Very pleased, AT&T. It's about time! Edit 2: Scratch that. Just checked it again and it's unchecked and still tells me to call AT&T. __________________  15" rMBP: 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, 2.3 GHz Quad Core i7, OS X 10.8.3  White iPhone 5: 32GB, iOS 6.1, Jailbroken  White iPad 2 16GB + WiFi, iOS 5.0.1, Jailbroken Last edited by ideal.dreams; Nov 21, 2012 at 02:26 PM.
	0

Nov 20, 2012, 11:30 PM	#12
ckelley macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Austin, TX	Still saying that I need to contact AT&T to activate this feature. sigh C'mon, Sprint, turn on LTE here in Austin so I can drop AT&T like a bad habit. Edit: iPhone 4S with grandfathered Unlimited data plan. Last edited by ckelley; Nov 20, 2012 at 11:31 PM. Reason: Added specs.
	3

Nov 20, 2012, 11:25 PM	#2
SamGabbay macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2011	Works for me! Looks like AT&T is coming around just in time for the holidays. Thanks AT&T... for this early Hanukkah present. __________________ "Sometimes we do things, and then other things happen. Why? I'll let you know." - Me
	6

Nov 20, 2012, 11:32 PM	#7
iBLAKEE macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2008	No luck here. iPhone 5 w/ unlimited.
	2

Nov 20, 2012, 11:35 PM	#14
theelysium macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2008	Not for me! Correction! I had to hard reset.. Home & lock.. Now it works! **** Yea! After testing for a few days I have discovered not all the towers work. I think it's only on our new LTE towers, but I could be wrong... Idk! I also found that FT over an AT&T Micro Cell now works. It did not work before. At my house the tower will not allow FT, but my M-Cell does! I'm in Sacramento, CA Last edited by theelysium; Nov 22, 2012 at 01:42 PM.
	1

Nov 20, 2012, 11:37 PM	#15
kockgunner macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada	I always think Canadian carriers are behind the curve, but I have a 6GB plan and I have gotten Facetime over cellular since iOS 6. We've also been getting tethering for free. Those 3 year plans are what get us. __________________ 2010 15" MBP \| iPhone 4 16GB \| PB G4 12" 1.33 Ghz, 768MB RAM, replacement 30GB HDD
	1

Nov 20, 2012, 11:40 PM	#16
bigrustyjc macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2005	Not working for me Still not working for me either. I'm in st louis. I have an iphone 5 with unlimited.
	0

Nov 20, 2012, 11:41 PM	#17
arn macrumors god Join Date: Apr 2001	Someone else confirmed it working on a 4S: https://twitter.com/CoryMoll/status/271125302002999296 arn
	1

Nov 20, 2012, 11:42 PM	#18
rico99 macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Palo Alto, CA	iPhone 4 says no! Facetime Faied "Connect to a Wi-Fi network to use FaceTime". iPhone4 running 5.1.1. Palo Alto, CA
	0

Nov 20, 2012, 11:44 PM	#22
dacreativeguy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2007	Works in SF!
	0

Nov 20, 2012, 11:45 PM	#23
krravi macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2010	Only for unlimited plans? __________________ 27" iMac - 3.4 Ghz Core i7,32 GB RAM, 1TB. Many iPad's,iPhone 4s,Apple TV,rMBP 2012 15" 2.6 Ghz 512 GB 16GB(refurb),MBA 2012,2.0 Ghz,8,256
	0

Nov 21, 2012, 12:57 AM	#25
Daremo macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chicago	Reboot and hard reset, neither worked for me, here in Chicago. __________________ Paul Follow me on : TWITTER Novembers Doom Universal iOS app : Novembers Doom : The Wayfaring Chronicles
	1

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