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Beta 4 locks AT&T customers out of FaceTime over cellular!

ITGuy said:
In one of Apple's written responses to the government (I can't remember if it was after the "locationgate" or "privacygate" issue), Apple clearly stated their agreement with AT&T requires that AT&T approve Apple providing voice over IP features utilizing the cell network, which includes FaceTime over 3G.

In order to finally get FaceTime over 3G approved by AT&T, it would appear that Apple had to provide AT&T with a mechanism to enforce specific data plans for customers wishing to use FaceTime over 3G, i.e. no unlimited data plan.
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Well that would explain it quite clearly then. Must have been something that stemmed from their original agreement? I'm sure they haven't been doing the same with hundreds of other carriers worldwide.

Don't forget that thanks to iMessage, AT&T has lost bucket loads of cash from their ripoff SMS text cash cow. AT&T wants to get some of that money back.

-ITG
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I've heard this a lot. Has AT&T really been charging insane prices for SMS? Most carriers in Canada (and I'd assume other countries are even better) either include unlimited sms/mms or charge $5 for unlimited use of it.
 
profets said:
I've heard this a lot. Has AT&T really been charging insane prices for SMS? Most carriers in Canada (and I'd assume other countries are even better) either include unlimited sms/mms or charge $5 for unlimited use of it.
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Yes... $20 for unlimited. I have a $10 for 1000 package which I'm not sure if they still offer. They used to have a 200 text package for maybe $5.
 
Anyone know how it determines if you're on AT&T's network or not? I'm curious if this affects AT&T resellers as well (like StraightTalk).
 
On one hand it is no more annoying than not being able to download applications larger than 50MG over WAN. On the other hand it is really annoying to have a built in application limited while third party applications are not (Skype, Fring, Google+, etc).
 
diamond.g said:
On one hand it is no more annoying than not being able to download applications larger than 50MG over WAN. On the other hand it is really annoying to have a built in application limited while third party applications are not (Skype, Fring, Google+, etc).
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I'm a lot more annoyed by the Facetime limitation, really. Most of the time I can choose to download a large application later over Wifi. That's something I initiate. Facetime requires two people that both need to be available via wifi. As it stands I almost never use Facetime because whenever it would be useful at least one of us is away from wifi.
 
bearda said:
Anyone know how it determines if you're on AT&T's network or not? I'm curious if this affects AT&T resellers as well (like StraightTalk).
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iDevices utilize a Carrier Settings file (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1970?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US ) to configure specific carrier settings such as APNs (access point names) for Visual Voicemail, SMS, MMS, internet access, tethering, and presumably FaceTime over 3G.

I would imagine that network identification occurs when the iDevice connects/registers with the network. At that point the specific carrier file is used. If it isn't an official or supported iPhone carrier, the device uses a generic carrier file that allows you to access the Cellular Data Network settings so you can configure your own APNs.

I don't use StraightTalk so I'm not sure if there is a specific carrier file for them since they are an AT&T MVNO. My iPhone is on T-Mobile ($30 for 100 minutes talk/unlimited text/5 GB data) and it appears to be using a generic carrier file called Carrier 12.2. You can check yours under Settings>General>About>Carrier. My AT&T iPad with $30 unlimited data plan is using the AT&T 12.5.2 carrier file.

-ITG
 
sesnir said:
Yes... $20 for unlimited. I have a $10 for 1000 package which I'm not sure if they still offer. They used to have a 200 text package for maybe $5.
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That's terrible.

ChrisTX said:
Apparently, text messaging costs the carrier very little at all yet they still charge us boatloads to do it.

http://gizmodo.com/5832245/atts-new-text-plan-overcharges-you-by-10000000
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Yeah, the SMS function incurs almost zero cost to the carrier from what I remember reading in the past.
 
if we are both on wifi i will just shoot them a text and get on skype on my computer... Facetime is useless without 3g/4g support
 
profets said:
Well that would explain it quite clearly then. Must have been something that stemmed from their original agreement? I'm sure they haven't been doing the same with hundreds of other carriers worldwide.
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It probably stemmed from the original AT&T agreement. Apple probably wouldn't have given such leverage to carriers once the iPhone became iConic.

-ITG
 
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There's an App for that. It's called Skype. Or Tango. Both work well over cellular. No jailbreaking required. And oh yeah - you don't need to know or care what the person on the other end is using for a phone.
 
samcraig said:
There's an App for that. It's called Skype. Or Tango. Both work well over cellular. No jailbreaking required. And oh yeah - you don't need to know or care what the person on the other end is using for a phone.
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FaceTime to iOS users should be what BBM is to BlackBerry users. Only the initial log in required, not having to download extra apps or worry if the other is online. I loved FaceTime over 3G/4G for me. I will jump to Verizon if the new iPhone is LTE and they dont charge for Face Time, otherwise I might as well stay on At&t. Cause good knows that Sprint's service is garbage.
 
Beezzy said:
FaceTime to iOS users should be what BBM is to BlackBerry users. Only the initial log in required, not having to download extra apps or worry if the other is online. I loved FaceTime over 3G/4G for me. I will jump to Verizon if the new iPhone is LTE and they dont charge for Face Time, otherwise I might as well stay on At&t. Cause good knows that Sprint's service is garbage.
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Have you used Skype or Tango?

I log in once - just like facetime - and I get notifications if someone is trying to reach me. I don't have to worry about whether or not someone is online.

Skype works from desktops - Tango doesn't - so the only big advantage Facetime has over Tango is the ability to call from your desktop/laptop.
 
samcraig said:
Have you used Skype or Tango?

I log in once - just like facetime - and I get notifications if someone is trying to reach me. I don't have to worry about whether or not someone is online.

Skype works from desktops - Tango doesn't - so the only big advantage Facetime has over Tango is the ability to call from your desktop/laptop.
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I use Skype but thats just another thing that can run in my background. How is it on your battery always signed in?
 
samcraig said:
Have you used Skype or Tango?

I log in once - just like facetime - and I get notifications if someone is trying to reach me. I don't have to worry about whether or not someone is online.

Skype works from desktops - Tango doesn't - so the only big advantage Facetime has over Tango is the ability to call from your desktop/laptop.
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I can appreciate what you're saying, but FaceTime is very integrated into the OS. Another drawback for Skype/Tango (maybe not for everyone) is that you begin to maintain a separate list of contacts and then rely on close friends using skype. I use skype at work quite a bit, but close friends and family, none of them bother with skype much.
 
Beezzy said:
I use Skype but thats just another thing that can run in my background. How is it on your battery always signed in?
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I use tango - not skype. And I've never noticed any negative battery issues.I am not 100% sure but I don't think it runs 24/7. Just like other apps - I believe it uses notifications on the back end so that if someone calls - it triggers the program to put the call through.

The thing I love about Tango is again - platform agnostic AND - something FaceTime should have (does it? I haven't used FaceTime in a long time) you can leave video messages if someone doesn't answer. You can also send a text message via tango as well.

I just saw that they do have a PC client. Not a Mac client though unfortunately (yet).
 
samcraig said:
I use tango - not skype. And I've never noticed any negative battery issues.I am not 100% sure but I don't think it runs 24/7. Just like other apps - I believe it uses notifications on the back end so that if someone calls - it triggers the program to put the call through.

The thing I love about Tango is again - platform agnostic AND - something FaceTime should have (does it? I haven't used FaceTime in a long time) you can leave video messages if someone doesn't answer. You can also send a text message via tango as well.

I just saw that they do have a PC client. Not a Mac client though unfortunately (yet).
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FaceTime shows up as a missed call like a normal phone call. But FaceMail should be a thing lol Im trade marking it! hahaha
 
profets said:
I can appreciate what you're saying, but FaceTime is very integrated into the OS. Another drawback for Skype/Tango (maybe not for everyone) is that you begin to maintain a separate list of contacts and then rely on close friends using skype. I use skype at work quite a bit, but close friends and family, none of them bother with skype much.
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What do you mean it's very integrated? Also - my Tango contact list is based on my main contact list which Tango uses. I guess I can add Tango contacts specifically -but have never had a need to do that since anyone I'd Tango with would be in my main contact list anyway...

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Beezzy said:
FaceTime shows up as a missed call like a normal phone call. But FaceMail should be a thing lol Im trade marking it! hahaha
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Tango shows up as missed calls both in the app and in the notification bar. I'm still not seeing much of an advantage for FaceTime. Maybe quality is a little better. Not trying to be difficult. I just sincerely don't see the advantage FaceTime has - especially if it's not going to work over cellular
 
samcraig said:
What do you mean it's very integrated? Also - my Tango contact list is based on my main contact list which Tango uses. I guess I can add Tango contacts specifically -but have never had a need to do that since anyone I'd Tango with would be in my main contact list anyway...
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Just that it's part of the OS, built into the phone app and facetime calls behave like cellular calls.

Actually I think that's a pretty big advantage, not relying on APNS for a call. With skype right now (I use just for messaging) I wouldn't say that it's 100% reliable for pushing notifications of incoming messages.

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samcraig said:
Tango shows up as missed calls both in the app and in the notification bar. I'm still not seeing much of an advantage for FaceTime. Maybe quality is a little better. Not trying to be difficult. I just sincerely don't see the advantage FaceTime has - especially if it's not going to work over cellular
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Integrated into the OS & phone app along with not having to rely on your contacts to have tango or skype installed is a pretty good advantage. And it now works over cellular (we're not all stuck on AT&T).
 
Fair enough and to each their own. I, personally, don't benefit from any of the advantages you list. The simple fact that Tango and Skype are platform agnostic makes it the better choice for me - personally.

profets said:
Just that it's part of the OS, built into the phone app and facetime calls behave like cellular calls.

Actually I think that's a pretty big advantage, not relying on APNS for a call. With skype right now (I use just for messaging) I wouldn't say that it's 100% reliable for pushing notifications of incoming messages.

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Integrated into the OS & phone app along with not having to rely on your contacts to have tango or skype installed is a pretty good advantage. And it now works over cellular (we're not all stuck on AT&T).
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samcraig said:
Fair enough and to each their own. I, personally, don't benefit from any of the advantages you list. The simple fact that Tango and Skype are platform agnostic makes it the better choice for me - personally.
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Agreed :)
 
wow, so sick of At&t and them milking everything, i'll be switching to sprint for sure. Thankfully sprint is adding LTE here this fall.
I've been with at&t for almost 10 years with 5 lines. Paid them almost $40k over that time.
 
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Meanwhile, in Verizon land...:D

image.png
 
profets said:
Integrated into the OS & phone app along with not having to rely on your contacts to have tango or skype installed is a pretty good advantage. And it now works over cellular (we're not all stuck on AT&T).
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So you rather rely on your contacts to have an iPhone than to have installed a platform-independent third-party App?
 
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