Carriers Quiet on Prospects for FaceTime Over Cellular Networks with iOS 6

[natedoggfdfl]

This is the biggest disconnect we are having to deal with. The manufacturers of the smart phones keep coming up with cool things to use the smart phone for which are data-intensive. On the other hand you have the carriers that are trying their best to limit how much data is being used on their networks. All this does is catch the consumer in the middle trying to use what they have already paid to use, but are unable to because there is a perceived shortage of bandwidth.

Can you even hear what is coming out of your mouth? I love reading these posts because people are so dumb when they start talking about things they know absolutely nothing about. Sure the phone manufactures can think up and implement great new innovations that take up a lot of data. Unfortunately, data is not an unlimited resource that you are entitled to. The carriers have quite a lot of things to maintain so that your ungrateful whiney self can go hunting for other things to complain about. Lets see, the carries have to upgrade their networks to stay competitive, expand their network to cover as much of the country as they can, and maintain their network that supports all their customers, all while doing what they can to keep costs reasonable as their costs go up. Sure, they are making tons of money but they are a BUSINESS. Thats kind of their goal... and plus, where do you think that profit goes? Back into the network so they can make money again next year! How can you not understand that things take time? Just because something is possible doesn't mean you're entitled to it right now..

Apple 'forcing the carriers hands' is what got this whole ball rolling.

AT&T was required to provide 'unlimited data' as terms of being the exclusive carrier for the origianal iPhone. AT&T knew it wasn't practical, but since their handwas 'forced' they went with it. Back then average data use was likely 1/10th of what is now.

Yet customers expected a lifetime right to $30 data, AT&T to never dare do anything to increase revenue AND manage to continually reinvest in their infrastructure.

They take a beating on this board despite having the fastest cell network in the US anytime they try to make an extra nickel...yet Apple applauded for taking their customers to the cleaners with everything they build.


The cell companies are in a tough spot. I'm sure they want to support features that help cell phones...but they have to try to keep their network in check.

It doesn't matter if data is tiered, if they risk promoting functionality that cripples their network performance, they will be crucified for it.

So glad to see someone else on here has a brain..

 

[Glassed Silver]

Won't someone please think of the carriers?!
Image

Can't wait till we have the next Matt Groening toon pics meme'd on here and after a while constantly get downvoted, then upvoted again for a slightly altered version where Spongebob Squarepants will save the meme by freshing it up a bit and then it falling into oblivion (almost).



Glassed Silver:mac

 

[adder7712]

What's so interesting about making video calls over 3G? Loads of feature phones have that ability.

 

[remizart1]

what's the big deal for the carriers? It's already being done through jailbreaking!....3G Unrestrictor

 

[kiljoy616]

"limitations imposed by the carriers"

Cellular carriers have to be pushed a little by the Congress... too much power they have!

Remember Corporations are people too. With all the rights of personhood.

 

[Treq]

So glad to see someone else on here has a brain..

Really? You say you love the free market, but that requires competition. The system in this country is geared to keep competition to a minimum. (locked phones, different frequencies, different technologies). Yes, they are a business, and they need to make money, but they will do the absolute minimum they have to maximize profits. If it were easier to switch carriers, things would be much better for the consumer.

 

[Ajones330]

I think the carriers will allow it this time around. They can't make the excuse of bandwidth being an issue. People are now on tiered data plans so no one will be a data hog...

 

[shurcooL]

When my contract with Rogers expires at the end of this year (stupid 3 year contracts in Canada), I'm gonna try to get an iPad data-only sim card and use that in my iPhone.

Screw voice and sms plans. Data is cheaper, more versatile, no contract, and future-facing.

 

[coolbreeze]

Carriers can suck it. I pay $50 for 5gigs of data. If I want to use all 5 gigs on a marathon facetime call, then it's my data to use.

I hate wireless in the US. A lot.

----------

What's so interesting about making video calls over 3G? Loads of feature phones have that ability.

It's Apple, the lightningrod of attention.

 

[booksacool1]

Huh? "Huge investment" for what exactly? FaceTime uses data bandwidth, just like any other VoIP app, like Skype. I use FaceTime over cellular data on my jailbroken iPhone - it runs just fine.

Same here. I've been using 3G Unrestrictor since the JB for the 4S came out. I facetime over 3G all the time. No issues here (assuming you've got a good 3G connection).

Hell I've used it while passenger in a moving car.

 

[dashiel]

VoIP is always going to have poor audio quality. Data doesn't have a direct connection. Packets bounce across multiple servers, providers, etc and sometimes get lost. So when the end user captures all that data, minus any losses or delays, the quality is crap. Providers like Comcast, Optimum Online, etc don't use VoIP. They actually co-mingle their voice data through the same lines and then route through phone lines from their data centers. This is how they get better audio quality. With the iPhone, voice is carried over cell voice network and video is over data. So while your video quality might lag, your audio will always (99.9%) be clear.

Again anecdotally speaking, but Skype audio is far superior to a cellular call. As I understand as well VoLTE is supposed to usher in an era of HD calls as well.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/fraunhofer-full-hd-voice-for-volte/

 

[sulpfiction]

I can't find exact numbers, but I presume there are far far far more people that have facetime preinstalled (and therefore likely to use it) than those who specifically installed one of the alternatives

Lol..wrong! I don't think u found any numbers.

 

[iZac]

This should be covered, like tethering under the statement:

"It's my data, I should be able to do what I want with it"

 

[Mackan]

This is the biggest disconnect we are having to deal with. The manufacturers of the smart phones keep coming up with cool things to use the smart phone for which are data-intensive. On the other hand you have the carriers that are trying their best to limit how much data is being used on their networks. All this does is catch the consumer in the middle trying to use what they have already paid to use, but are unable to because there is a perceived shortage of bandwidth.

You find this pattern everywhere in today's world. By Apple themselves as well. There's a lot of technology they could bring you in their products, but is constantly withheld. Why? Because they constantly want you to buy new and upgrade. That's why you don't get all the goodies you should get. They do this with hardware and software.

The consumer will always be in the middle. Capitalism is what is driving this world. That's probably why everything will go to hell very soon anyways...

 

[chinesedemo]

Enough with the defeatist comments. No one is forcing any of you to sign any contract, no one is forcing you to use data, texts or make phone calls. If you want to do the footwork and change your number often there are plenty of ways to keep your bills in check. The problem is you feel entitled. You want everything to be easy, yet you depend on others to make this happen.

I pay the lowest cell bills I have ever paid in my life since I started using cellular phones in 1996. You have to understand capitalism. Things must cost what they must cost, everyone has to make a certain profit, if they don't then profit slips, salaries go down, benefits go down. Which leads to an even further degradation of the work staff. Which leads to poorer service. There is no way around it, we will pay in front end or the back end, it doesn't matter, things cost what they cost.

If you are so concerned about saving, why don't you defend your borders, your laws and your constitution? Why do you let scoundrels feed off your paychecks?

 

[Mackan]

Enough with the defeatist comments. No one is forcing any of you to sign any contract, no one is forcing you to use data, texts or make phone calls. If you want to do the footwork and change your number often there are plenty of ways to keep your bills in check. The problem is you feel entitled. You want everything to be easy, yet you depend on others to make this happen.

I pay the lowest cell bills I have ever paid in my life since I started using cellular phones in 1996. You have to understand capitalism. Things must cost what they must cost, everyone has to make a certain profit, if they don't then profit slips, salaries go down, benefits go down. Which leads to an even further degradation of the work staff. Which leads to poorer service. There is no way around it, we will pay in front end or the back end, it doesn't matter, things cost what they cost.

Sure. But look how well capitalism worked out in 2008. Almost took the whole world economy down. Why was that now again? It tells me something is very sick with regards to how it works today. Profits? There are no limits to how much profit a company wants.

 

[FelixDerKater]

How well will it work at the 0.2Mbps imposed on the throttled AT&T users?

 

[coolbreeze]

How well will it work at the 0.2Mbps imposed on the throttled AT&T users?

It won't. That's your punishment. See what they did there?

 

[jonnysods]

My carrier is going to be laughing all the way to the bank with uneducated people using FT.

 

[Fruit Cake]

FaceTime over 3G/cellular was enabled in iOS 5. This is just apple tryig to find an excuse for a 10th "major" feature.

3G-Venice

 

[doelcm82]

You find this pattern everywhere in today's world. By Apple themselves as well. There's a lot of technology they could bring you in their products, but is constantly withheld. Why? Because they constantly want you to buy new and upgrade. That's why you don't get all the goodies you should get. They do this with hardware and software.

The consumer will always be in the middle. Capitalism is what is driving this world. That's probably why everything will go to hell very soon anyways...

There's a grain of truth to that, but a whole pile of untruth.

If Apple holds back features so that you will have to upgrade next year to get them, they run the risk of some other company offering those features sooner. Instead of upgrading, you switch, and Apple loses a customer...possibly forever.

And you SHOULD switch, if you really can get a better overall package somewhere else. You should switch if you can get a better package for you (even if someone like me doesn't think it's better overall, or better for me).

Or you can just stay and complain, if that's what makes you happy.

 

[dontpannic]

I've just had a tweet from o2 in the UK regarding this:

O2 in the UK ‏@O2
@dontpannic Hi Nick, we're looking at FaceTime's evolution in iOS6 at the moment, and will have more details for customers later in the year

 

[doelcm82]

This should be covered, like tethering under the statement:

"It's my data, I should be able to do what I want with it"

You can put your data in a box, and ship it around the world by boat.

It may be your data, but the boat isn't yours.

When you send your data over the internet, it travels through many wires and devices that don't belong to you. Whoever owns those wires and devices wants to make a profit on their investment.

 

[swagi]

Can you even hear what is coming out of your mouth? I love reading these posts because people are so dumb when they start talking about things they know absolutely nothing about. Sure the phone manufactures can think up and implement great new innovations that take up a lot of data. Unfortunately, data is not an unlimited resource that you are entitled to. The carriers have quite a lot of things to maintain so that your ungrateful whiney self can go hunting for other things to complain about. Lets see, the carries have to upgrade their networks to stay competitive, expand their network to cover as much of the country as they can, and maintain their network that supports all their customers, all while doing what they can to keep costs reasonable as their costs go up. Sure, they are making tons of money but they are a BUSINESS. Thats kind of their goal... and plus, where do you think that profit goes? Back into the network so they can make money again next year! How can you not understand that things take time? Just because something is possible doesn't mean you're entitled to it right now..

Yeah - sad state in the US. Really. That's why it's fun, when Americans are lecturing Europeans on data standards (like the emerging LTE).

Just to put that into perspective - there are several carriers in Germany and nearly all of them use data caps and throttle your bandwidth (most to 3.6 MBit/s). But...

there is T-Mobile, which explicitly offers unlimited 7.2 MBit/s data with explicit allowance of tethering and so on. Check this

They explicitly offer you to get a Multi-SIM with this plan to use it with laptops or tablets.

 

[Macman45]

Of course they're quiet. They're in the back room giggling over the amount of money coming in from people that have caps.

I'm not even going to try and find out how much my carrier (O2) would charge....I'm keeping it wifi, I suspect that shortly we will see "bolt ons" from the major carriers to allow us to use FT over their networks. I can't see a situation where I would desperately need to FaceTime anybody using my 4S off wifi.....Much money will no doubt be made though.