iOS 15 Brings FaceTime to PC and Android Users With New Option to Join on the Web

[MacRumors]

With the iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey updates, Apple is expanding the reach of FaceTime by allowing anyone, even those without Apple devices, to join a FaceTime call.

In iOS 15 and its sister updates, you can create a link to a FaceTime conversation that can be shared anywhere. Using this link, friends and family members who do not have an Apple device can log into a FaceTime call using a web browser.

Non-Apple users can join a one-on-one FaceTime call or a Group FaceTime call, effectively making FaceTime a more platform-agnostic video service that is no longer just limited to iOS users. You do, however, need an iOS user to start a FaceTime call and send a link.

Invite anyone to join you in a FaceTime call, even friends who don't have an Apple device.2 They can join you for one-on-one and Group FaceTime calls right from their browser instantly -- no login necessary.

Apple says that non-Apple users can join calls using the newest versions of Chrome or Edge. Sending video requires H.264 video encoding support.

There are a ton of other updates and improvements to FaceTime, including Spatial audio support, Portrait mode support, Voice Isolation mode for drowning out background noise, Grid view for seeing all participants, and a new SharePlay feature that's designed to let you watch movies, listen to music, and share your screen with friends and family members.

Article Link: iOS 15 Brings FaceTime to PC and Android Users With New Option to Join on the Web

 

[macsplusmacs]

Let them eat web.

 

[_Spinn_]

Wow this is surprising. Seems like Apple wants to compete more with Zoom if they are opening FaceTime to the web for other platforms.

 

[AvisDeene]

Wow, I never saw this coming. Good on Apple.

 

[DsurioN]

C’mon Apple, you might as well go all the way and also throw in iMessage.

 

[dillacom]

well, its not active on the web just yet. but will be a nice way to do group calls.

 

[Act3]

where is the iMessage web option?

 

[NoGood@Usernames]

This is big! Definitely one of the few pleasant surprises to come from today's big show. Caught me off guard in a good way; this will open up a lot of new opportunities for keeping in touch with family and friends!

 

[joecomo]

this is cool - now I can impress my windows colleagues with center stage

 

[gikku]

18 months late for the WFH binge.

 

[AppleFan91]

Kind of the best of both worlds for Apple. Keeps people locked in but also let’s them share FaceTime a little. From what I’ve gathered it has to be initiated and the invite received from an apple device (I.e. an android user can’t create a FaceTime link to invite others) so not quite open platform but yeah…

 

[kc9hzn]

C’mon Apple, you might as well go all the way and also throw in iMessage.

With features like Do Not Disturb setting your iMessage status, I was like, “that would actually be really useful if more of my frequent contacts used iOS”. They’re probably moving in that direction, but iMessage is a platform of its own. It’ll take a lot of work to make sure it works (in a high fidelity) manner in any way that supports PCs/Android devices.

 

[fwmireault]

C’mon Apple, you might as well go all the way and also throw in iMessage.

I’m all for a Windows/Android iMessages but not in a web formula. Nobody would want to use a web messaging service on his mobile device (maybe on PC).

if Apple allows iMessages on Android it should make an app, and I doubt they will do that

 

[ValO]

Bring out an iMessage and FaceTime app for Android and windows and charge $3 for a month or $25 a year.

 

[sh20]

11 years late, literally to the day.

I remember Steve Jobs introducing facetime as an open source standard. we still aren’t there yet but I guess this is a good first step. Another 11 years and maybe it will finally be a standard.

Steve Jobs promised to let competitors use FaceTime. It's time.

We haven't forgotten.

www.cnet.com

 

[contacos]

Bring out an iMessage and FaceTime app for Android and windows and charge $3 for a month or $25 a year.

What a bad idea. This would certainly not convince the international WhatsApp crowd

 

[velocityg4]

Apple says that non-Apple users can join calls using the newest versions of Chrome or Edge.

Does that mean no Firefox support? If so that's bogus. Since Firefox aligns much more closely with Apple's public privacy policy than Chrome.

 

[kc9hzn]

11 years late, literally to the day.

I remember Steve Jobs introducing facetime as an open source standard. we still aren’t there yet but I guess this is a good first step. Another 11 years and maybe it will finally be a standard.

Steve Jobs promised to let competitors use FaceTime. It's time.

We haven't forgotten.

www.cnet.com

Seems it was down to some patent issues, particularly with VirnetX. FaceTime was originally supposed to be peer-to-peer, for one thing, and the patent dispute definitely forced that change

 

[DesignTime]

Tim must have gotten tired of having to use Zoom for business meetings

 

[sh20]

Seems it was down to some patent issues, particularly with VirnetX. FaceTime was originally supposed to be peer-to-peer, for one thing, and the patent dispute definitely forced that change

yup but they’ve done it today so whatever the reason was, it isn’t patents now

 

[cocoua]

C’mon Apple, you might as well go all the way and also throw in iMessage.

Its in the way! wait another 15 years and it will be done.

 

[d686546s]

Well it's something. It's not great, but it's something. Having to send links seems cumbersome. Your use case may obviously vary, but I primarily use FaceTime for unscheduled conversations and simply calling someone and having it ring on the other side just seems better to me.

So if I need a different app for that with non-Apple people, I might as well use it for the few cases where we schedule a conversation. Anyway, that's just me.

 

[cknibbs]

Anyone know if the links work yet?

 

[kc9hzn]

Well it's something. It's not great, but it's something. Having to send links seems cumbersome. Your use case may obviously vary, but I primarily use FaceTime to unscheduled conversations and simply calling someone and having it ring on the other side just seems better to me.

So if I need a different app for that with non-Apple people, I might as well use it for the few cases where we schedule a conversation. Anyway, that's just me.

I think, along with the screen sharing features, the goal is to move FaceTime more into the pro space (like Zoom, only run by a more privacy minded company).

 

[d686546s]

I think, along with the screen sharing features, the goal is to move FaceTime more into the pro space (like Zoom, only run by a more privacy minded company).

Possibly, but unless you are the only Pro in your company, or your company uses Apple exclusively, it sounds to me as if you will always need multiple services because only a part of your workforce can initiate calls. If that's the case, why not go with Zoom or Teams all the way?