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FaceTime Audio - overlooked feature

virginblue4

virginblue4

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 15, 2012
2,036
727
United Kingdom
Hi everyone,

Today I used FaceTime Audio for the first time and wow! I'm honestly amazed at the call quality, it's crystal clear. I knew that this feature has been here since the introduction of iOS 7, but had never thought to use it. Will be using it a lot more often now.

What do others think of it? :D
I realise this thread has no actual point, it just makes a change from all the whining, so I thought that I would share my experience.
 
I think the biggest problem is that it doesn't automatically make it a FaceTime audio call when I'm calling someone similar to how iMessage does over sms.
 
goobot said:
I think the biggest problem is that it doesn't automatically make it a FaceTime audio call when I'm calling someone similar to how iMessage does over sms.
Click to expand...

Just mantain pushed the call button and boom...FaceTime audio call!
 
I agree. I have to tell everyone this is available and show them how to use it. It's a totally different call experience even as someone who has used Skype for near on a decade. Skype is great, but it never seems to deliver on call clarity.
I think Apple is rolling this out slowly as to not ruffle too many carrier feathers the way they did with iMessage. Eventually calls will probably default to this automatically as carriers get more and more comfortable as data companies rather than 'phone' companies.
 
The first time I used it my friend was on LTE and I was on wifi... Wow! And I seriously mean it, wow! The quality was amazing and for free? Definitely one of my favourite iOS 7 features.
 
Yes it's really clear, very pleased with it.

However I don't think the phone should automatically use FaceTime Audio if it can when making a call, as a poster above suggested. In some cases you cannot guarantee you or the other person has a reliable data connection that's travelling with them. This is not so critical with iMessage given its nature, so I'm happy to let it try as iMessage first, manually resend as SMS if not etc. etc. but I'd rather pick manually from the get go with calls.
 
virginblue4 said:
Hi everyone,

Today I used FaceTime Audio for the first time and wow! I'm honestly amazed at the call quality, it's crystal clear. I knew that this feature has been here since the introduction of iOS 7, but had never thought to use it. Will be using it a lot more often now.

What do others think of it? :D
I realise this thread has no actual point, it just makes a change from all the whining, so I thought that I would share my experience.
Click to expand...
I use it for gaming and it is great. At first I got dropped calls, but after the .x update that fixed an issue with FaceTime it's been great (4+hours in a call and no drops). I like that I can listen to music on device as well AND the other person won't hear it. I hope they add the ability to add more than two people on call and I'll say see ya to skype.
 
I have a friend who lives in an area with really bad reception, and every time i call her we would get cut off every few minutes if she moved around. I then remembered Facetime Audio and called her back as she was on wifi, and it was amazing. The quality is crystal clear, and the fact I can call from my iPad and Mac now is just fantastic.

Definitely the best feature of iOS 7 (and Mavericks).
 
The only issue I've had with it is that some people see the word "FaceTime" then without thinking or continuing to read on to the "Audio" part decline it since they don't want a video call... I agree it needs to be renamed.
 
goobot said:
I think the biggest problem is that it doesn't automatically make it a FaceTime audio call when I'm calling someone similar to how iMessage does over sms.
Click to expand...

Uh, I'm sure glad it doesn't.

Most of my contacts are iPhone users, I only have 2GB of data, and I'm a heavy music streamer (I usually push 1.8-1.9GB by the last day of the billing cycle). I don't want every single phone call I make to happen over my data connection.

Maybe if you could set to automatically connect over Wi-Fi only? (Unless it's a Wi-Fi only feature, I don't know, I've only ever used it on WiFi).
 
I only wish Apple would allow this to work over 3G on older devices like the iPhone 4 which many of my friends and family use. While I have no problem calling them from 3G network (iPhone 5), they can't take the call unless they're home or somewhere else connected to Wi-Fi.
 
It's not really "free" if you are using data. A lot of plan include unlimited voice.

I can understand there can be some good times to use it like when on wifi in a bad cell area.
 
cynics said:
It's not really "free" if you are using data. A lot of plan include unlimited voice.

I can understand there can be some good times to use it like when on wifi in a bad cell area.
Click to expand...

But I imagine a lot of it is done on a wifi network while at home. Here in the UK, more and more contracts are starting to introduce unlimited data, so for some, it essentially is free (me included!).
 
harrisonw1998 said:
The only issue I've had with it is that some people see the word "FaceTime" then without thinking or continuing to read on to the "Audio" part decline it since they don't want a video call... I agree it needs to be renamed.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I can't get anybody to use it because they instinctively think they are getting a video call.
 
I agree that the audio quality is amazing. The only problem is that the noise canceling doesn't seem to work as well as it does on a normal phone call. My girlfriend pointed that out to me. She noticed it immediately because I work in a noisy environment sometimes.
 
I have used it a lot when I travel internationally, makes traveling much more affordable on my SIM card I buy. I also like being able to use iMessage from my different phones.
 
I use FTA daily. One of my favorite features in iOS 7. I'm also surprised how well it works over 3G. Glad I still have unlimited with Verizon.
 
goobot said:
I think the biggest problem is that it doesn't automatically make it a FaceTime audio call when I'm calling someone similar to how iMessage does over sms.
Click to expand...

The thing is though. Here at least in the UK, there are not many data tariffs that are unlimited. If it was enabled by default and a user was using FaceTime Audio often and for long calls, this could quickly use all of their data allowance up.

I've tried FaceTime Audio over wifi and the quality was amazing. It's a really good feature for people calling overseas and thus avoiding expensive call costs.
 
Me and my friend used FaceTime Audio (i was on 3G and he was one WIFI) yesterday for talking while playing GTA online (normally we use normal FaceTime call).

And i must say the audio quality is superior, crystal clear, much much better than cellular call. The big plus is that u can use it while on 3G, LTE...

I hope apple will release the update in the next couple of days for OSX that will contain this feature.

It uses very small amount of data actually. For 2 hours talk time, just 60MB.
 
Hi

I'm just wondering how Facetime audio compares to HD voice for anyone who's tried both.

I'm on 4G in the UK as are all other iPhones in the house and to be honest i cannot notice and difference in quality to regular calls, HD voice apparently works with no intervention if both parties are on 4G with compatible handsets.
 
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