Apple Adds Email-Based FaceTime Support in iOS 4.1 Beta 3

[REM314]

What Apple should do (which I know they won't) is allow developers to create Facetime compatible apps for other smartphones. You won't get a monopoly on the service by restricting it to Apple devices (if thats what they want).

 

[wmcraver]

Uderstandable... I guess.

...for now. I mentioned here before that I would not be surprised if they started treating it like Safari: free, yearly updates, seperate from the OS, and a Windows version.

I guess the only problem with this, is that they would need/want a Windows-compatible video chat solution as to not leave non-Apple users out of the equation. Not that I really care, but I can understand how this integration was not made to begin with.

 

[ModestForumName]

Of course they could just go one giant step further and offer it as an app that can go across multiple non-apple platforms. FT on netbooks, other laptops, Droids, galaxies (via paid app for the latter). Offering the most amazing video chat UI and absolutely conquer.

 

[MarkNY]

Is there going to be a speaker next to the camera on the touches? If not, what a waste. A video calling device that won't let you make a basic phone call without it being on speakerphone.

 

[mrfoof82]

So basically, all Macs (since they have cameras -- the Mac Mini and Mac Pro needing a Cinema Display), all iPod Touches, iPads, iPhones and future iPods will end up as VOIP devices through FaceTime/iChat.

This is why Apple opened the protocol. This is EXACTLY why. You can "call" anyone with a phone number or email address.

People wondered how Apple was going to stick it to the mobile carriers. This is how. They'll still have their use when you're on the go, but eventually... that's about it. And once other device manufacturers and mobile OS makers support the protocol it's going to force the mobile carriers to think fast on how they're not going to get destroyed by VOIP.

 

[theOtherGeoff]

If Apple pushes this into all there devices like they're doing, we can eventually be done with the phone carriers.

Here's what I'm saying:

Wi-Fi calling with either email or phone number.

Purchase a Mi-Fi device which will be about $30-60. And you have free calling and email and Internet all day.

Will that work?

Heck Apple could get there own Skype style service since they're building these huge Apple Farms in NC.

I'm tired of the carriers in the USA and the rape of their customer base with these ridiculous plans.

while the rape of the masses is horrendous...

for facetime to work,
1) I think you'll have to have a facetime supported device. No calling to a landline/non-apple smartphone over wifi or even 3G (4G? quite possible).
2) I'm thinking that we'll have to be linked to Apple in some way (minimally your email registered to the iTunes Store, most likely to me.com). But... still a cool feature for [current] 99/year (along with over the wifi sync, email, backups etc etc).

It's a P2P app t'isn't it? Doesn't the current method use the phone call (sync comm) to ping the other side to start an internet communication?... with email (normally async comm... smtp isn't timely enough for a true email connection to start it), you'll need to have a mediator [me.com,ITMS] to find that email addr and map it to a registered device... ping an IP address [does that mean that ITMS will always know where you are at in terms of IP?] with a 'will you accept an incoming call' and hand off the IP communications at that point?


Always curious about the '...and then a miracle occurs...' step in the process flow.

 

[Tyre]

This just indicates the end of minutes in high-end (and in the future, with the trickle down nature of electronics, mid/low-end) devices. Now all you will be billing for is straight data.

Interesting. This plus 4g hotspot, jailbroken device for calling over 3g = suck it AT&T.

 

[notjustjay]

ipod shuffle with facetime?

that would be quite.....interesting....

You shake it to call someone at random

But seriously, it would be good if FaceTime support were brought to other devices, and I suspect, given Steve's promise of "tens of millions" of devices, that we may see Macs (iChat?) in addition to the usual suspects (the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch).

Even devices that don't have cameras (like my first-gen iPad) might benefit from at least one-way incoming video calling (and voice-only output).

 

[avanpelt]

Maybe one of these days--oh, I don't know--they'll decide to fix the proximity sensor glitches? Apple, please fix the problems the device has now to the best of your ability at present and then concentrate on adding new features.

 

[ModestForumName]

You shake it to call someone at random

But seriously, it would be good if FaceTime support were brought to other devices, and I suspect, given Steve's promise of "tens of millions" of devices, that we may see Macs (iChat?) in addition to the usual suspects (the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch).

Even devices that don't have cameras (like my first-gen iPad) might benefit from at least one-way incoming video calling (and voice-only output).

lol chat roulette app???

 

[theOtherGeoff]

Apple would never limit this to MobileMe. They want FaceTime to become a standard.

but facetime over wifi[internet] means some sort of 'registration' and tracking of your device when it's on net. You can't call a Skype computer unless your running skype in the background and pinging a skype server with your information... what service will you be sending your email address[es] to If not me.com?

Minimally, every time you see your iP*/iChat device DHCP lease being renewed, you need to send a 'I'm HERE" message someplace so the Facetime incoming request can locate you.

maybe this will be a uber Jabber service, with links to AIM, Yahoo Chat....

 

[Tech-Minded]

Devices That Will Have Facetime Support

-All Macintosh Computers with isight
-iPod Touch
-iPad
-iPod Nano (if it gains wi-fi)

 

[nanotlj]

I just do not understand why apple can not directly link FaceTime with iChat?

 

[joshjoshlol]

I'm calling it: Facetime for Macs starting in 10.7, and not a moment sooner. You need some bling somewhere in your OS release, after all

 

[BayouMan]

yup

If FaceTime can work with a machine based on email, then it will work with iSight enabled Macs. Period.

The reason for the delay has to have been related to bandwidth issues and guaranteeing the user has an acceptable experience. It would be bad for Facetime and Apple if the experience, well, sucked.

Bandwidth is driving a LOT of decisions in the mobile and wi-fi markets right now. We are all still beholden to carriers.

 

[paradox00]

What Apple should do (which I know they won't) is allow developers to create Facetime compatible apps for other smartphones. You won't get a monopoly on the service by restricting it to Apple devices (if thats what they want).

How do you know they wont? Jobs stated that they plan on making it an open standard. If that is true, it wont be Apple only forever. From the looks of it, they still putting the finishing touches on it before releasing it to the world.

 

[jamesvandyke]

FaceTime Everywhere

This clearly proves they are extending FaceTime to other devices. Great news! Bring it to Macs, iPods and iPads!

Yes, it would be great if they included this with iChat. Would that mean you could video chat with more than one person?

 

[Stella]

I wonder how soon after OSX gets Facetime, a windows version will also be released?

If Apple want Facetime to become mainstream, the least they can do is make a windows client.

 

[Cougarcat]

but facetime over wifi[internet] means some sort of 'registration' and tracking of your device when it's on net. You can't call a Skype computer unless your running skype in the background and pinging a skype server with your information... what service will you be sending your email address[es] to If not me.com?

You'll just send it to iChat. iChatAgent running in the background would detect the call and load iChat. It will work the same way it does now with the iPhone except users will be identified through email instead of numbers.

 

[guitargoddsjm]

I'm calling it: Facetime for Macs starting in 10.7, and not a moment sooner. You need some bling somewhere in your OS release, after all

Seems logical. They must have something up their sleeves for 10.7, especially considering the last update (10.6) was under the hood.

 

[Stella]

Seems logical. They must have something up their sleeves for 10.7, especially considering the last update (10.6) was under the hood.

Which is the reason why they probably only charged $29.. consumers want to see value in products. Generally, they aren't interested in improvements that aren't visible / easily noticed ( I don't just mean from a GUI point of view ).

OSX 10.7 is probably going to have more visible changes, its going to be something more radical than previous OSX releases ( aside from OS10.0

 

[Cougarcat]

I'm calling it: Facetime for Macs starting in 10.7, and not a moment sooner. You need some bling somewhere in your OS release, after all

I'm calling it: you're wrong.
The bling in 10.7 will be a redesigned UI, aesthetically similar to iOS (just look at MobileMe's new Mail.) As I posted earlier, apple will want to take iChat away from OS X to help make FaceTime a standard.

 

[coldplaysucks.]

Yes, it would be great if they included this with iChat. Would that mean you could video chat with more than one person?

This is definitely a feature I am hoping for. I'm not sure how many of my friends are going to have iPhones, but I know the number of them that have webcams on their macs . . . more people to talk to . . .

facetime on 3g would be really nice though

 

[johnnyjibbs]

Then for god's sake let's make it compatible with iChat!!! I have a front-facing camera on my iPhone and my parents are in USA with an Air. Why or why can't we communicate via video??? I'm not at home when they're online due to time zone differencesso let me use my iPhone to video instead.

Oh yeah, I forgot that Apple has abandoned Mac OS x...

 

[chris8sirhc]

Gooo Apple

all i can say is finally apple is going to get it right
facetime
camera
2 mics
flash a4
and gyro