Group Facetime/iMessage

nlr · Jun 16, 2012, 08:28 AM

Is it possible yet in iOS 6?

Calidude · Jun 16, 2012, 08:32 AM

Lol no. Maybe in a few years.

Parise · Jun 16, 2012, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlr

Is it possible yet in iOS 6?

Not that I've ever seen.

You mean like a Google Hangout?

nlr · Jun 16, 2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parise

Not that I've ever seen.

You mean like a Google Hangout?

Yeah but for facetime or a group conversation with multiple people in iMessage?

*Calypso* · 09:02 AM

Group message will probably be the "killer feature" in iOS 7.

Until then, use WhatsApp - works perfect and supports iOS, Anroid, WP, BB, Symbian. The problem is that you can't switch from iMessage to SMS easily, because you can only send SMS to one person.

Isn't Facetime P2P? I think it would require a server-based solution to get group Facetime to work properly, especially over 3G. Besides that, it doesn't make much sense on the small screen of the iPhone. Not even Skype supports group video chats on iOS. Would definitely be a nice feature on the iPad and on OS X, especially to save the money for the Skype premium account.

But in the end, proprietary solutions are not the way to go for communication, unless you select your friends by their mobile operating system.

Calidude · 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlr

Yeah but for facetime or a group conversation with multiple people in iMessage?

Apple is known to drip out features bit by bit, like the aformentioned Facetime over 3G "feature". It's safe to say that if it's not in the iOS6 beta, its being saved for a future iOS version down the road where it will be touted as a brand new feature of its own instead of what it really is, an enhancement that should have been there in the first place.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Calypso*

Isn't Facetime P2P? I think it would require a server-based solution to get group Facetime to work properly, especially over 3G. Besides that, it doesn't make much sense on the small screen of the iPhone. Not even Skype supports group video chats on iOS. Would definitely be a nice feature on the iPad and on OS X, especially to save the money for the Skype premium account.

Group video chatting can already be done on Fring for iOS, so its not impossible.

*Calypso* · Jun 16, 2012, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calidude

Group video chatting can already be done on Fring for iOS, so its not impossible.

I don't say it's impossible, but video group chat over 3G would be a mess if it was P2P, because you would have an additional direct connection for every user.

nlr · Jun 16, 2012, 09:07 AM

4G will probably be standard soon though

Calidude · Jun 16, 2012, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Calypso*

I don't say it's impossible, but video group chat over 3G would be a mess if it was P2P, because you would have an additional direct connection for every user.

I believe Fring is server side so you're probably right.

jeremiah239 · Jun 16, 2012, 09:21 AM

iMessage has group text chat, I use it all the time. And I have been since iMessage was released.

nlr · Jun 16, 2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiah239

iMessage has group text chat, I use it all the time. And I have been since iMessage was released.

How?

jeremiah239 · Jun 16, 2012, 09:41 AM

When you compose a text, at the top where it says To: choose 2 or more people you want to group chat. It only work between iOS devices.

----------

Here is a screen shot of one of my group messages. LINK

frunkis54 · Jun 16, 2012, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlr

How?

seriously? just add whoever you want in the To: field. I do it all the time with 5-7 people but it can be more.

althought it would be nice to be able to start one from a group in your contacts.

bettaboy123 · Jun 16, 2012, 08:02 PM

Like someone said above, group iMessages are definitely possible. I use them daily. There is a group of friends and I that have a seven person chat going and when people don't want to get the messages anymore (i.e. going to sleep) we just switch to another chat. It is one of my favorite things about iMessage tbqh.

Just wish it worked with my Galaxy Nexus, but I'm planning on getting an iPhone soon so I won't have to just do it on my iPad.

P.S. We obviously all have iOS devices (all iPod touches except for my iPad) and I'm sure we could use a more "open" chat system, but we already have thousands of messages in there and a lot of pictures too.

bndoarn · 08:26 PM

Just make sure Group Messaging is turned on in settings. If not, it sends it as separate messages and not a group message.

Jun 16, 2012, 08:28 AM	#1
nlr macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2010 Location: London	Group Facetime/iMessage Is it possible yet in iOS 6?
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Jun 16, 2012, 08:55 AM	#5
Calypso macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Germany	Group message will probably be the "killer feature" in iOS 7. Until then, use WhatsApp - works perfect and supports iOS, Anroid, WP, BB, Symbian. The problem is that you can't switch from iMessage to SMS easily, because you can only send SMS to one person. Isn't Facetime P2P? I think it would require a server-based solution to get group Facetime to work properly, especially over 3G. Besides that, it doesn't make much sense on the small screen of the iPhone. Not even Skype supports group video chats on iOS. Would definitely be a nice feature on the iPad and on OS X, especially to save the money for the Skype premium account. But in the end, proprietary solutions are not the way to go for communication, unless you select your friends by their mobile operating system. Last edited by Calypso; Jun 16, 2012 at 09:02 AM.
	0

Jun 16, 2012, 08:13 PM	#15
bndoarn macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2008	Just make sure Group Messaging is turned on in settings. If not, it sends it as separate messages and not a group message. Last edited by bndoarn; Jun 16, 2012 at 08:26 PM.
	0

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Jun 16, 2012, 08:32 AM	#2
Calidude Banned Join Date: Jun 2010	Lol no. Maybe in a few years.
	0

Jun 16, 2012, 09:07 AM	#8
nlr Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2010 Location: London	4G will probably be standard soon though
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Jun 16, 2012, 09:21 AM	#10
jeremiah239 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 239 Area, FL	iMessage has group text chat, I use it all the time. And I have been since iMessage was released.
	2

Jun 16, 2012, 09:41 AM	#12
jeremiah239 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 239 Area, FL	When you compose a text, at the top where it says To: choose 2 or more people you want to group chat. It only work between iOS devices. ---------- Here is a screen shot of one of my group messages. LINK
	2

Jun 16, 2012, 08:02 PM	#14
bettaboy123 macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern Michigan	Like someone said above, group iMessages are definitely possible. I use them daily. There is a group of friends and I that have a seven person chat going and when people don't want to get the messages anymore (i.e. going to sleep) we just switch to another chat. It is one of my favorite things about iMessage tbqh. Just wish it worked with my Galaxy Nexus, but I'm planning on getting an iPhone soon so I won't have to just do it on my iPad. P.S. We obviously all have iOS devices (all iPod touches except for my iPad) and I'm sure we could use a more "open" chat system, but we already have thousands of messages in there and a lot of pictures too.
	0