FaceTime audio on iPhone 4

[badman89]

I was really excited about the new FaceTime audio feature in ios 7 until I noticed today that iPhone 4 users are not allowed to use this feature on 3G (it's wifi only). Does anybody know why this restriction exists?

 

[user-name-here]

AT&T recently lifted the restriction (even on unlimited data users) to facetime over 3G/4G.

Which carrier are you on?

 

[Azy]

FaceTime had always been restricted to wifi on the 4, no differnt with FaceTime audio I believe.

 

[Blorzoga]

FaceTime had always been restricted to wifi on the 4, no differnt with FaceTime audio I believe.

It would make more sense to only restrict FaceTime video to wifi only. I assume the restriction is due to the low data speed on the 4 and 4s. It makes no sense to restrict FaceTime audio, however. I can't believe the data speed couldn't handle it.

 

[rdy0329]

It would make more sense to only restrict FaceTime video to wifi only. I assume the restriction is due to the low data speed on the 4 and 4s. It makes no sense to restrict FaceTime audio, however. I can't believe the data speed couldn't handle it.

It's not just about the data speed, the 3G module in your phone is only HSDPA 7.2mbps which have higher ping times (90-100ms lowest) thus making VoIP calls have delay, I think apple doesn't want that. Have you tried skyping over 3G? how is it? Just for comparison's sake.

HSPA+ have better ping times 50ms-100ms

 

[badman89]

It's not just about the data speed, the 3G module in your phone is only HSDPA 7.2mbps which have higher ping times (90-100ms lowest) thus making VoIP calls have delay, I think apple doesn't want that. Have you tried skyping over 3G? how is it? Just for comparison's sake.

HSPA+ have better ping times 50ms-100ms

Yes, I've used Skype (audio only) on 3G, and it's perfectly fine. I don't understand why Apple won't allow it with FaceTime.

 

[Azy]

It's only avaliable from 4S onwards. I personally think it was more to get people to upgrade to 4s than anything else but yeah 4 doesn't have as good 3G potential performance

 

[rdy0329]

Yes, I've used Skype (audio only) on 3G, and it's perfectly fine. I don't understand why Apple won't allow it with FaceTime.

Either: They couldn't risk it or *greed*. You pick.

 

[Spectrum Abuser]

AT&T recently lifted the restriction (even on unlimited data users) to facetime over 3G/4G.

Which carrier are you on?

That's not true. I still can't facetime over the 3G network on my iPhone 4 with a grandfathered unlimited data plan on AT&T.

 

[user-name-here]

That's not true. I still can't facetime over the 3G network on my iPhone 4 with a grandfathered unlimited data plan on AT&T.

Strange, guess it's just dependent on which model iPhone you have

My mistake, I could do it on my 4s so I made an assumption I shouldn't have

Guess it's kind of like how the 4 is capable of running Siri... but they hold back that capability for the 4s and onward.