iPad mini Do you have to have phone serv for Facetime?

[cottonjenn]

I don't know anything about Facetime. Ordered the mini wifi only but was wondering how Facetime would work if not on a phone.

 

[CandyNJ66]

It uses Wifi just like an iPod Touch does. Don't worry

 

[alphaod]

And you call people via their email address.

 

[Macman45]

No phone service is required, although I believe some providers in the USA are now offering FT as a bolt on option.

You can use Facetime on any wifi enabled iphone or ipad without the need for any contract or cellular service. You can of course also use your Mac.

As posted above, you do not use phone numbers, but email addresses to call your friends.

 

[bogatyr]

And you call people via their email address.

You can call them via their phone number in the FT app. It doesn't actually dial them but looks them up on Apple's system using their phone number. You just don't have a phone number address to use for your own account - they must dial your email for FT calls and your email is the caller ID when you call someone.

In iOS 6 you are able to link a cell phone number to your Wifi device for both FaceTime and iMessage though if you have an iPhone as well.