Hey guys. So, I'm still waiting to get my iPhone 4 in the mail. In the mean time I had a couple questions about facetime someone can hopefully help me out with. Ok, so since facetime is supposed to be wifi only (for now) is it possible to start and execute a facetime call without a data plan (or with cellular data turned off)? I would assume so. What about starting a facetime call without ANY minutes or without a SIM card? If it's over wifi, do you even need minutes or a phone number? I would love to basically use facetime as you would use skype or ichat. I don't want to give my phone number away or need someones phone number to facetime. I just want to videochat over wifi. Also, I heard something about needing a text messaging plan in order to start a facetime call or an international facetime call, is this true? What about international facetime calls? Let's say I'm in the states and want to facetime with someone in London, do I need to have international calls enabled to face time or will absolutely ZERO (0) minutes be used if i directly start the call as a facetime call? Thanks.
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FaceTime
- Thread starter rumorman69
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You don't have to call someone first. You go to their contact and hit FaceTime. But it won't work without a SIM card. It has to be activated to work.
Thanks. Does it use ANY minutes at all to start it directly with facetime? Do you need text messages? Are international direct facetime calls free? Will your phone number show up on their phone when you facetime them or is there a way to hide your number when you factime? Thanks
i think to get the facetime button to work in contacts you need the phone number or atleast place 1 call.
There are different requirements for activating FaceTime vs. actually using FaceTime.
Based on other threads I have seen, you need to have text messaging enabled on your phone to activate FaceTime. This doesn't mean you need a texting plan or that you will even be charged for one message; you just need to have the ability to send and receive them (i.e. not have them blocked completely).
Once FaceTime is activated, all you need is a WiFi connection and the other person's phone number. You can put your phone in Airplane Mode if you want (with WiFi enabled) and you can still make a FaceTime call.
Based on other threads I have seen, you need to have text messaging enabled on your phone to activate FaceTime. This doesn't mean you need a texting plan or that you will even be charged for one message; you just need to have the ability to send and receive them (i.e. not have them blocked completely).
Once FaceTime is activated, all you need is a WiFi connection and the other person's phone number. You can put your phone in Airplane Mode if you want (with WiFi enabled) and you can still make a FaceTime call.
- It doesn't use any minutes at all.
- You have to have text messages. At least you have to to activate FaceTime.
- It is my understanding that international FaceTime calls are totally free.
- The phone number does show up. Don't know if there is any way to block it.
it uses no minutes and you cannot hide your #
True
No. They just cannot be blocked completely.
i think to get the facetime button to work in contacts you need the phone number or atleast place 1 call.
This isn't true. I just tried it.
This isn't true. I just tried it.
How did you make a face time call without having the number in your contacts or dialing it?
how are there so many threads on this and how are people still insisting you have to be in a current call to initate facetime?
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/facetime.html
"Lets say you want to start a video call with your best friend. Just find her entry in your Contacts and tap the FaceTime button. Or maybe youre already on a voice call with her and you want to switch to video. Just tap the FaceTime button on the Phone screen. Either way, an invitation pops up on her iPhone 4 screen asking if she wants to join you.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/facetime.html
"Lets say you want to start a video call with your best friend. Just find her entry in your Contacts and tap the FaceTime button. Or maybe youre already on a voice call with her and you want to switch to video. Just tap the FaceTime button on the Phone screen. Either way, an invitation pops up on her iPhone 4 screen asking if she wants to join you.
I'm assuming the iphone always keeps in contact with apple's server (for push services) so they always know what IP address is for every iphone phone number (globally) either on 3g or wifi. Therefore when you ask to facetime 123-456-7890, apple' server knows what the IP address of the destination and has a constant connection with that iphone so it rings it via their server and hooks the two together. This also explains why it works in airplane mode where no cell network is used.
I'm betting if Apple's servers are down, facetime would not work.
I'm betting if Apple's servers are down, facetime would not work.
I can confirm that what admanimal said is true.
Just a side note though: It only works with supported carriers. I've canceled AT&T here in the US and am trying out a pre-unlock, pay-as-you-go, SIM-cut-down-to-microSIM T-Mobile service (voice and data) and surely enough, no FaceTime. Maybe there'll be a way to get around this after an unlock/hack though, sometime soon so that you can also FaceTime with the large pool of potential T-Mobile iPhone fourers out there.
Just a side note though: It only works with supported carriers. I've canceled AT&T here in the US and am trying out a pre-unlock, pay-as-you-go, SIM-cut-down-to-microSIM T-Mobile service (voice and data) and surely enough, no FaceTime. Maybe there'll be a way to get around this after an unlock/hack though, sometime soon so that you can also FaceTime with the large pool of potential T-Mobile iPhone fourers out there.
Not true. Mine are blocked completely and I can FaceTime. I couldn't always but last week it activated on it's own. I checked my plan and I still the Opt Out codes for messaging listed and no SMS' are going through.