AT&T Expands FaceTime Over Cellular Access to More Customers

[MacRumors]

AT&T announced today that it is planning to allow any customer "with an LTE device" on a "tiered data plan" to use iOS 6's FaceTime over Cellular feature. Previously, only customers with a Mobile Share plan could use the feature.

AT&T today announced it will enable FaceTime over Cellular at no extra charge for iOS 6 customers with an LTE device on any tiered data plan. AT&T will also continue to offer FaceTime over Cellular to customers with any AT&T Mobile Share plan, as well as FaceTime over Wi-Fi, which has always been available for all customers. AT&T expects to roll out this functionality to customers over the next eight to ten weeks.

As part of its commitment to serving customers with disabilities, AT&T is also making FaceTime over Cellular available to deaf and hard of hearing customers who qualify for special text and data-only packages.

In practice, the change only affects iPhone 5 and iPad with LTE customers with tiered, though not unlimited, data plans. The company plans to roll out the functionality over the next 8 to 10 weeks.

Jim Cicconi, AT&T's head of External and Legislative Affairs, wrote a blog post explaining AT&T's thoughts on FaceTime. He notes that there was no way for the company's engineers to model usage and network impact and, as a result, the company was conservative in how it was rolled out.

In this instance, with the FaceTime app already preloaded on tens of millions of AT&T customers' iPhones, there was no way for our engineers to effectively model usage, and thus to assess network impact. It is for this reason that we took a more cautious approach toward the app. To do otherwise might have risked an adverse impact on the services our customers expect - voice quality in particular - if usage of FaceTime exceeded expectations. And this is important for all our customers regardless of which smartphone they may use.

Article Link: AT&T Expands FaceTime Over Cellular Access to More Customers

[SandboxGeneral]

AT&T still doesn't get it. It's our data, and we should get to choose how we use it.

[Cougarcat]

8 to 10 weeks? How long does it take to remove a restriction? And why does the LTE device restriction exist? Still, glad to see AT&T showing some sense.

[GQB]

Don't give me wireless FaceTime, give me G*d D*mn LTE coverage!!!

[WannaGoMac]

***** you very much AT&T for nothing. Love, 4S user...

[jer9542]

Still can't tell if troll or fail....

[milan03]

Wait... what?! AT&T is deciding if I an use Apple's FaceTime app that comes preloaded on the iPhone? Only if on a tiered plan? How's this news?

Am I crazy or this piece of news begs for thrashing?

[cmwhitley]

Whatever, AT&T. Try as you may to force me out of my unlimited data plan; you can have it when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

[Battlefield Fan]

April fools???

[WannaGoMac]

Originally Posted by SandboxGeneral

AT&T still doesn't get it. It's our data, and we should get to choose how we use it.

They see it as it's their data they agree to provide...

[powaking]

My guess is they want to see who on the Unlimited plan will jump ship and just get a tiered plan instead.

[Sir Gibler]

In practice, the change only affects iPhone 5 customers with tiered, though not unlimited, data plans.

This isn't true. It also applies to LTE iPads.

Edit: you guys fixed it.

[thelonelylimo]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

In practice, the change only affects iPhone 5 customers with tiered, though not unlimited, data plans.

I was almost excited.

[Macdude2010]

YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[F123D]

Sorry 4S users. No facetime for you!

[Allenbf]

Makes me glad I'm with VZ, but they do charge more, so...

Still, never had issues with them. I feel for you folks on ATT, from what I read, it must be irritating.

[Amory]

As part of its commitment to serving customers with disabilities, AT&T is also making FaceTime over Cellular available to deaf and hard of hearing customers who qualify for special text and data-only packages.

I might hate AT&T but this is a good call.

[bbeagle]

Originally Posted by SandboxGeneral

AT&T still doesn't get it. It's our data, and we should get to choose how we use it.

They get it. They're trying to save money.

Offer someone an all-you-can-eat buffet for $10. Or an ounce of food for $2 each.

Offer spaghetti, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, steak and lobster.

Don't let the all-you-can-eaters choose steak or lobster.

That's what they're doing.

[SandboxGeneral]

Originally Posted by WannaGoMac

They see it as it's their data they agree to provide...

I know that's what they probably think, but since we pay for that data, shouldn't we have some ownership of the use of that data too?

[ProudLoz]

I'm not eligible since I have unlimited data, but I don't really give a damn since I hardly use Facetime. I don't understand why only tiered data plan users can use it, since regardless of what I use with my unlimited data plan, I'll end up getting throttled.

[Skika]

This is hilarious.

[treyjustice]

Doesn't help me on unlimited...

[jayducharme]

Naturally, no help for those of us on the old unlimited plan. AT&T keeps dangling carrots to get everyone off of unlimited (even though it's technically not true unlimited). And of course, if we leave unlimited and begin using Facetime, we'll probably exceed our monthly data allotment. It's great for AT&T. It's not so great for customers.

[jasonsewell]

"AT&T will also continue to offer FaceTime ... over Wi-Fi, which has always been available for all customers."

This is how you can tell AT&T are ********s. They have absolutely nothing to do with FaceTime over Wi-Fi.

[cmwhitley]

Originally Posted by jayducharme

It's great for AT&T. It's not so great for customers.

Correct. But I doubt AT&T execs will lose even a single night's sleep over it.