FaceTime Video Calls Still Limited to Wi-Fi as LTE iPad Rolls Out

[MacRumors]

The Verge confirms in its testing with a review unit of the new iPad with 4G LTE that FaceTime video calling remains limited to Wi-Fi networks despite the fact that LTE offers greater bandwidth than many Wi-Fi networks.

We've just confirmed that although the new iPad has incredibly fast download and upload speeds over LTE, FaceTime video chat still won't work directly on the 4G network. As you can see in the positively vexing screenshot above, attempting to initiate a FaceTime call over LTE fails out with a message exhorting you to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

As the report notes, Steve Jobs claimed during FaceTime's introduction at the iPhone 4 media event in June 2010 that Apple still needed to work with carriers to support FaceTime over cellular data networks and that the feature would consequently remain Wi-Fi-only at least through 2010. Well into 2012 and with 3G now giving way to LTE on the new iPad, it seems that carriers are still unwilling to allow FaceTime calls to be transmitted natively over their networks, presumably due to concerns about increased data usage and strained network capacity.

Article Link: FaceTime Video Calls Still Limited to Wi-Fi as LTE iPad Rolls Out

 

[S.B.G]

Somehow, I am not surprised. Cellular carriers .

 

[Beaumon]

Can you connect it to its own WiFi network and then use it? lol

 

[scrapple]

A facetime call over LTE probably slurps down 50mb (guessing)...
Imagine someone with a 250mb LTE plan, and by the end of the day or week using factime, they go over 250mb.... ouch..

The carriers got you guys by the balls LTE users....

 

[truehybridx]

Theres a tweak for that

oh wait its new so nobody can do what they want to it

 

[Cynicalone]

The carriers will continue to be the problem going forward.

With the iPad on LTE we now have a device that may have near cable internet speed on the go. And it is still handicapped by the pos carriers.

Using my iPhone to tether to my iPad for the MLB app last year I was able to only watch 3 full games per month before I hit the 4GB cap. LTE will make streaming easier and faster but it doesn't matter until we solve the carrier problem.

 

[Richdmoore]

I think at least Apple needs to call out it's "partner" networks on this issue, or simply enable a toggle like they do with tethering, allowing those networks with no objection to use it, and forcing the carriers to answer uncomfortable questions when their subscribers call about why they can't get the switch to work.

Any issues that FaceTime might have had under 3g are not an issue with 4g, as many wifi connections use slower data than 4g.

 

[Vol7ron]

Is anyone really surprised? I bet that the carriers are looking for ways to incorporate this into an additional fee. In addition to voice, text/mms, data, you would now have video calling and be possibly charged for minutes. But who knows, I could be wrong, but I see the Carriers doing that in a heart beat...

 

[troop231]

If Skype works well enough over 3G than what's the issue with enabling FaceTime over 3G and now LTE?

 

[nsayer]

That's just silly.

When the data was unlimited, then it made at lest some logical sense to impose this limit. But if the carriers are going to charge for usage, wouldn't it make sense for them to want us to use a lot?

 

[sartios]

I'm not surpried, but if you REALLY wanted to do it when you are out, just use your iPhone as a personal hotspot and connect that with the iPad via WiFi, that's if you really needed it of course.

 

[azentropy]

I have seen great reports of speed for both Verizon and AT&T LTE (higher than typical home broadband in many cases), but what is the latency? Could it be that it is still limited over LTE in some part because of poor experience do to latency?

 

[Gudda]

I guess I'll stick with skype. Don't understand why they can do it and apple cant.

 

[SPUY767]

I feel like Apple is probably doing this to prevent the dearth of people storming the building with torches and pitchforks after they burn up all their data facetiming.

 

[RalfTheDog]

Can you connect it to its own WiFi network and then use it? lol

If people started using it for Facetime, people would run up huge bills, then get mad and cancel service. They are doing this to prevent loss of customers.

 

[the-oz-man]

If people started using it for Facetime, people would run up huge bills, then get mad and cancel service. They are doing this to prevent loss of customers.

I don't think I'm convinced of this. After all the ETF would empty your wallet.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

The thing I wonder is how much people would actually use FaceTime outside of a wi-fi network. One wouldn't want to use FaceTime when they're out and about or public someplace... that'd be weird. One would use iMessages/texting in such a situation if their hands were available, or call in a normal phone call if their hands weren't available.

FaceTime it seems would mostly be used at home, work... hotels and hospitals... and vacation destinations. Most of those places would have wi-fi signals. It seems to me it wouldn't put much of a burden on the network to just let users use FaceTime anywhere.

And if it does put a huge burden on the network, well, that's why they already have the limits on how much you can use per month.

 

[knemonic]

Look at the mug!

Josh is such a funny lookin dude.

 

[shartypants]

When are the carriers just going to realize that they need to beef up their networks to support more traffic, the demand is getting out of control.

The "not on wi-fi" limitation may be circumvented if you tether with another device, since the tethering device just thinks it is on a wi-fi hotspot. But maybe that will only be possible with Verizon, since AT&T hasn't said they will allow it with 4GLTE.

 

[KnightWRX]

It's funny how Skype video calling works over 3G... yet it's the carrier's fault that Facetime doesn't.

So easy to blame the carriers.

 

[TXAppleUser]

You still have to jailbreak for that feature.

 

[KPOM]

Can you connect it to its own WiFi network and then use it? lol

Actually, I think someone has tried that with success.

 

[rjohnstone]

It's funny how Skype video calling works over 3G... yet it's the carrier's fault that Facetime doesn't.

So easy to blame the carriers.

Facetime works just fine over 3G (via jailbreak), the carries just don't want several million people doing it over their network until they can find a way to charge for it.

When are the carriers just going to realize that they need to beef up their networks to support more traffic, the demand is getting out of control.

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be spending billions every year on adding or updating cell sites if they didn't think it was necessary.

 

[sziehr]

It is the carriers fault cause since apple is a partner they can be told no. Since Skype is not and is just an app on the iPad there is nothing the carrier can do about it. So yes it is big telecoms preventing it this would let people get a lot closer to full use and that cuts into those margins.

 

[KnightWRX]

Facetime works just fine over 3G (via jailbreak), the carries just don't want several million people doing it over their network until they can find a way to charge for it.

But they want Skype to do it... RIIIIIIGHT.

----------

It is the carriers fault cause since apple is a partner they can be told no. Since Skype is not and is just an app on the iPad there is nothing the carrier can do about it. So yes it is big telecoms preventing it this would let people get a lot closer to full use and that cuts into those margins.

Sure there is, they could tell Apple to kick Skype out of the app Store. And frankly, that's what was happening until suddenly Apple allowed the feature.