By Open, he meant Open standard. So it is implemented across platforms and devices and not just on iOS.
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FaceTime Audio Coming to Macs With Next OS X Update
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By Open, he meant Open standard. So it is implemented across platforms and devices and not just on iOS.
The reality is that FaceTime / Messages are not free. It costs Apple money to run the servers and it costs money to maintain the software. Apple doesn't have the kind of business model that allows it to provide messaging services free of charge to the entire internet. Neither does anyone else for that matter- there is no prospect of being able to monetize the idea of sending messages over the internet with all the free alternatives. As a result, they aren't going to open it up unless they think it will increase their hardware sales.
YES! I SO KNEW GETTING AN IPOD TOUCH FOR CHRISTMAS WAS GOING TO BE WORTH IT!!!!
Everyone in my house has iOS devices, so this is going to be awesome. I don't have to even have a cellphone anymore now.
Just internet access for my Mac and it.
Everyone in my house has iOS devices, so this is going to be awesome. I don't have to even have a cellphone anymore now.
Just internet access for my Mac and it.
Just type in iMessages. Or apple messaging. Or Mac messages app. Very simple to add another word to the search. Many people already know about this though. No brainer.
It costs money to maintain these services but its all taken into consideration when you plunk down the money to buy a iOS device...
Plus, its these services that are the lure... Google has a lot right now but most of them are not as polished as Apple's.
Would love Apple to get into more such services.
My wife and I both have Macs and iPhones. In fact most of my friends and clients do as well. With almost 50% of smartphones in the U.S. being iPhones and with Macs, iPod Touches, and iPads as well added to that number, there are going to be a LOT of people finding this useful.
IMO FaceTime audio is one of the best features of iOS 7. I can't stand the low quality of cell phone calls. FaceTime is such an improvement. I use it all the time when calling people also on iOS 7. This will only make it that much more useful.
How does it compare to Skype
HiDef sounds like a great idea, but is it any better than Skype? What about over low-bandwidth connections?
HiDef sounds like a great idea, but is it any better than Skype? What about over low-bandwidth connections?
Just like iTunes and iCloud cpanel for Windows.
Bringing Facetime and iMessage support to Windows will only bring positive sales for Apple. As a bonus it will be considered the good guy so Apple would sell more iOS devices.
If anyone hasn't tried out FaceTime Audio yet, I strongly suggest you do so.
It's amazing how clear it is. I thought to myself "How clear can a phone call be?" but I was amazed.
Even if you haven't got anyone to try it with, try it with yourself!
It's amazing how clear it is. I thought to myself "How clear can a phone call be?" but I was amazed.
Even if you haven't got anyone to try it with, try it with yourself!
Sweet.
For my Fam, I feel like FaceTime really brought the Jetson style future to our fingertips. The reason I dig FaceTime is it's crazy simple to use that everyone from my Mom and Dad to my son can use it. No additional apps to run and nothing to really learn how to use. Works extra well for me since about 98% of my family on both my and my wife's side all are on iPhone eco system. FaceTime audio is just yet another perk that we'll use. What really finally made FaceTime shine was when the phone carriers finally allowed it. We're taking a trip for the holidays and my parents love to FaceTime my son and experience all the great things he's seeing. Pretty awesome.
For my Fam, I feel like FaceTime really brought the Jetson style future to our fingertips. The reason I dig FaceTime is it's crazy simple to use that everyone from my Mom and Dad to my son can use it. No additional apps to run and nothing to really learn how to use. Works extra well for me since about 98% of my family on both my and my wife's side all are on iPhone eco system. FaceTime audio is just yet another perk that we'll use. What really finally made FaceTime shine was when the phone carriers finally allowed it. We're taking a trip for the holidays and my parents love to FaceTime my son and experience all the great things he's seeing. Pretty awesome.
Opening it to Microsoft products probably would be a good move as it would add users and good will and since Microsoft is dead in the water from a competitive point of view the threat of lost users would be minimal. However, open it up to android and you get a real threat of making it easy to switch off iOS combined with a real expense of supporting it all. For that reason, it's not going to happen for any platform.
This is great.
I think the next evolution in FaceTime audio should be as follows:
- Caller initiates phone call
- Caller's phone checks to see if it's on Wi-Fi (or if a setting has been checked in Settings to allow FaceTime Audio over cellular)
- Caller's phone checks if recipient's phone is on Wi-Fi (or if they also have a setting that has been checked in Settings to allow FaceTime Audio over cellular)
- If both checks are positive, FaceTime Audio call is initiated. If either of the checks fail, the call defaults to via carrier.
This would provide a seamless experience, and get consumers to truly appreciate the HD quality FaceTime audio requires, whilst simultaneously raising a middle finger to cellular carriers.
I think the next evolution in FaceTime audio should be as follows:
- Caller initiates phone call
- Caller's phone checks to see if it's on Wi-Fi (or if a setting has been checked in Settings to allow FaceTime Audio over cellular)
- Caller's phone checks if recipient's phone is on Wi-Fi (or if they also have a setting that has been checked in Settings to allow FaceTime Audio over cellular)
- If both checks are positive, FaceTime Audio call is initiated. If either of the checks fail, the call defaults to via carrier.
This would provide a seamless experience, and get consumers to truly appreciate the HD quality FaceTime audio requires, whilst simultaneously raising a middle finger to cellular carriers.
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Sorry, but Apple promised it would be an open standard and would become available on other platforms, whether it's cost effective or not - that is the reality. Saying there is no prospect, saying Apple doesn't have the kind of business model... ignores the original and very clearly stated promise that it would be available. Add to that, that the entire worth of the platform for those who already have an Apple device, is that it increases the worth of those Apple devices immediately if people can message and call others who don't have Apple products (which is the majority of the world).
This needs to become what they originally promised, an open standard.
Yea, i wondered why it didn't already do this since iMessage already pretty much does this too.