iOS 15: How to FaceTime Android Users

[hot-gril]

BTW, the nice thing about Android is that people are just using it and don't waste their time pestering people, who know that competition is the thing that drives progress.

That's just regular people in general. I.e. not the subset of posters on tech sites who want everyone to "see the light." But if you want to point fingers at a community for pushing unsolicited tech onto people, it should be Linux desktop users.

 

[hot-gril]

I have only tested it a few times with family, but when you create the link for the FT call, you can name it, like "family", or "friends" and send it to a group. That link stays live and can be used. They can rejoin using the same link that stays active until you delete it. When they join you will get notified so you can get back on the call.

If so, that's even better than the regular iPhone FaceTime functionality. I've always hated how with FT, when someone drops due to bad internet, they can't rejoin. I say "when" because someone always drops. Makes it unusable.

 

[hot-gril]

Kinda sad - and a bit lame - that it took the simplicity and functionality of something like Zoom to kick the bu**s of a bunch of lazy incumbents like Apple, Cisco, and Microsoft to up their video-chatting game.

A welcome addition, however, even if an Android app might have been the more obvious solution.

Exactly. Zoom was the first time in my life someone has sent me a link to join a VC and it's just worked out of the box with no login hassle. Of course you can download the app, and you can log in, but it's optional for guests like it should be.

 

[hot-gril]

And also, WhatsApp calling / video call has never worked properly for me. It’s not an issue with my internet, because FaceTime and telegram work perfectly.

I think when it comes to deciding on a common platform to use, it boils down to who you want to bear the externality of that decision.

With apps like WhatsApp and telegram, you require everyone to download and install a third party app (and I abhor WhatsApp because it’s has the worst user experience of the three). FaceTime just requires non-iOS device users to access a browser; they don’t even need to install an app. It’s definitely the most seamless of the three.

I will definitely give it a go with my colleagues when iOS 15 gets released later this year.

Zoom is what people typically use for VC, and for good reasons, except it's not suitable for "calling" people out of the blue. WhatsApp has worked for me too, but it's hardly usable on desktop, so I pass.

I'm often on unreliable internet, and FT seems to tolerate that the least. Even iMessage can freak out and start misordering messages, dropping messages, or sending blank images if the connection isn't stable. It's compounded with FT's inability to rejoin a call when you drop, though finally this is changing with these links.

 

[212rikanmofo]

The whole point of this thread is focusing on the fact that people don't have to move to iPhone in order to use FaceTime with someone else who does have an iPhone.

No way I would use anything Google. They have shown too many times they can't be trusted. I am not going to be the product for Google.

Amen to that. Also not a fan of Facebook, Twitter, Zoom, Tik Tok as well for obvious reasons. I don't support untrusty companies. Not to say I don't trust Apple as well, but they're the ones I trust the most when compared to the rest.

 

[eas]

Or more likely, just don't see the business case. Unless they're going the charge for the service on non Apple products, the only way it generates them any revenue is if it halos people on to future Apple purchases.

I believe the documents released in the Epic games case show that they do not see the business case.

It is pretty obvious though. As a Mac and iOS user, being able to communicate with Windows and Android users using Messages and FaceTime makes them more valuable. Not being able to communicate with Windows and Android users makes them less valuable. This leads me to find alternatives that work across platforms, which makes Apple products less valuable to me.

Or more simply: Delivering value to Apple customers is good business. It gives them more reasons to stay with Apple and fewer to leave Apple. It gives them more reasons to recommend apple and fewer reasons to criticize them.

Making Messages and FaceTime available on Windows and Android also helps their services push by complimenting their cross platform TV+ and Music efforts, including their new media sharing initiatives that are coming with Monterry. If they don't let people watch and listen together across platforms then what they basically expect people to leave friends out who don't use Apple devices, to choose Apple over their friends. That's insecure, abusive behavior. That's messed up.

 

[Abazigal]

It also makes a case for iMessage never coming to android. The moment android users can just install an app on their devices, what incentive would there be to switch an iPhone? But since they are still required to download and install an app, this doesn't make it any better or easier for them compared to another chat app like WhatsApp or telegram. What's the "browser" equivalent for iMessage? SMS?

 

[Mia2202]

Is this means that Android needs to install an App?

 

[lyngo]

My issue with WhatsApp is that it is owned by Facebook. No thank you. But for those that like it and can use it -- GREAT. This is a subjective issue based off of preference. For me, though, I am going to make the switch more to using FaceTime because it is NOT owned by Facebook and because it does have end to end encryption.

 

[I7guy]

Would have been so much simpler if they made an app for Android/Windows instead of this sharing a link crap.

This way it works on every internet connected device with a camera…I’m assuming.

 

[Adventure Author]

Would have been so much simpler if they made an app for Android/Windows instead of this sharing a link crap.

This FaceTime link sharing is one of the the best ways I could ever imagine joining a call that was originally only meant for iOS and iPadOS devices. You are just so blind to see from the wider perspective. More people can join without having to worry about installing an app they do not want to install just for FaceTime calls. It is much easier to join. I can pick up a different device and join the call, I can go to a cyber cafe and join the call from any web browser. I am not limited to only being able to join with my mobile phone. Your comment just shows how difficult it is to satisfy everybody. FaceTime link is a big improvement. I love it and so do other normal people.

 

[jdsingle]

As a former Apple fan and now ardent Android user, the best way to invite an Android user to a Facetime call is to: install Google Duo on your iPhone and call them using that.

Google Duo is cross platform and works fantastically. Honestly, Apple only did this because in the US most people use iPhone (it's American) and they're hoping to win over people's Android relatives.

Time will tell whether this works.

As for the rest of the world,.Google Duo, Zoom,.WhatsApp and other services already dominate and no one is going to move to iPhone just for Facetime.

I'm likely an outlier (haven't looked at Google Duo rating in App Store), but I cannot stand using Google Duo. I have it installed as my parents are ardent Android users, and I avoid it as much as possible. If my mom calls me, the app doesn't notify me until after she's hung up. Have confirmed notifications and permissions enable this including uninstall and reinstall. It's definitely not an MVP for me.

 

[TimFL1]

I believe the documents released in the Epic games case show that they do not see the business case.

It is pretty obvious though. As a Mac and iOS user, being able to communicate with Windows and Android users using Messages and FaceTime makes them more valuable. Not being able to communicate with Windows and Android users makes them less valuable. This leads me to find alternatives that work across platforms, which makes Apple products less valuable to me.

Or more simply: Delivering value to Apple customers is good business. It gives them more reasons to stay with Apple and fewer to leave Apple. It gives them more reasons to recommend apple and fewer reasons to criticize them.

Making Messages and FaceTime available on Windows and Android also helps their services push by complimenting their cross platform TV+ and Music efforts, including their new media sharing initiatives that are coming with Monterry. If they don't let people watch and listen together across platforms then what they basically expect people to leave friends out who don't use Apple devices, to choose Apple over their friends. That's insecure, abusive behavior. That's messed up.

Now is the perfect time to open up iMessage and FaceTime properly for Android and Windows with all the functionality it packs. Apple seems to be afraid of their lock-in being removed when people can receive iMessage on Androids, but they can now literally use it as a trojan horse to get people into their services.

„Basic“ (no AppleID used) iMessage on Android could merely offer things like:
- Basic iMessage
- Read Receipts & Typing indicators
- Group texting via iMessage
- Pinned conversations
- giphy integration
- Being able to see screen sharing via SharePlay
- Adding tapbacks
- Being able to properly see stuff like stickers, tapbacks sent from Apple devices

They could expand it by offering more to non-Apple platforms by having them sign up for an AppleID:
- Messages in iCloud support (requires iCloud+)
- iMessage Profiles (avatar / displayname sharing)
- Unlocking active screen sharing via SharePlay
- Unlocking Apple Music SharePlay (requires subscription)
- Unlocking TV+ SharePlay (requires subscription)

iMessage on Apple devices would still be the ultimate experience with all the iMessage app store content and native apps, memoji / animoji, location sharing, Apple Cash and so on.

They could also lock active SharePlay participation to Apple devices but I guess it makes sense to allow it for Apple Music and TV+ for existing subscribers to push both services. That‘d be a big selling point for both services and for iMessage as a whole, because I don‘t know any other app that allows shared media playback on Android/iOS. The only competition in that place is Spotify on Discord and Disney+ with their WatchGroup. Amazon has a WatchParty feature too but I‘m not sure if that‘s available in-app or Safari yet.

I think RCS being added to the Messages app is the more likely outcome, because iMessage would still kind of be too little too late.

 

[Lilo_says]

I appreciate it when websites just work without making me download an app or log in. Especially something this full-featured.

Yeah unfortunately it doesn’t work on my android chrome browser and I’ve invited people who use android phones but it also doesn’t load for them.

 

[gomichaelgo]

Yeah unfortunately it doesn’t work on my android chrome browser and I’ve invited people who use android phones but it also doesn’t load for them.

My mom has the most basic android phone and never updates or downloads anything. I send her the FT link from the FT app on my phone and she joins the FT video call. I feel like if she can do it, anyone can. We had a big group of both android and iphone users and it was great that it worked.

 

[Lilo_says]

My mom has the most basic android phone and never updates or downloads anything. I send her the FT link from the FT app on my phone and she joins the FT video call. I feel like if she can do it, anyone can. We had a big group of both android and iphone users and it was great that it worked.

Good for her then. Used it with my husband, my own other android phone, and even my windows laptop to see what error he’s getting but the fact is it simply won’t load. We’ve been using duo for the longest time though and since the facetime link wouldn’t work properly, we’re just gonna stick to that.

I’ve been loving iOS since I switched and FaceTime’s quality is the best but it just works best with the app tbh

 

[Lilo_says]

I'm likely an outlier (haven't looked at Google Duo rating in App Store), but I cannot stand using Google Duo. I have it installed as my parents are ardent Android users, and I avoid it as much as possible. If my mom calls me, the app doesn't notify me until after she's hung up. Have confirmed notifications and permissions enable this including uninstall and reinstall. It's definitely not an MVP for me.

Yeah that’s weird that it wouldn’t notify you. What iphone and iOS version are you using? It works very well for me and it’s pretty good considering that the facetime link won’t load for my husband’s android.

 

[Lilo_says]

This FaceTime link sharing is one of the the best ways I could ever imagine joining a call that was originally only meant for iOS and iPadOS devices. You are just so blind to see from the wider perspective. More people can join without having to worry about installing an app they do not want to install just for FaceTime calls. It is much easier to join. I can pick up a different device and join the call, I can go to a cyber cafe and join the call from any web browser. I am not limited to only being able to join with my mobile phone. Your comment just shows how difficult it is to satisfy everybody. FaceTime link is a big improvement. I love it and so do other normal people.

I was excited when i found out about this facetime link sharing that I updated my OS right away after knowing this feature but unfortunately the link simply doesn’t load for the ppl i invited. I even tried to access it on my android phone but same thing, wouldn’t load.

 

[Mrtovson]

iMessage is very relevant I’m not sure what data set your looking at, perhaps the one that filters through your bias. What makes you think Apple wants to be the most utilised communication application provider in the world? Do you know how much responsibility and problems come along with having a communication platform used by billions of people worldwide? Apple has no need to chase that title against WhatsApp when it can simply focus on making iMessage a highly secure, respected, stable and pleasant experience for Apple users.

People here are very quick to point out what Apple has done wrong in their eyes and offer their expert solutions, without wondering if they even understand the vision and trajectory Apple is on as a company.

So much short sightedness as always

IMessage is a terrible service and should be replaced by something that works.

 

[I7guy]

IMessage is a terrible service and should be replaced by something that works.

One blanket statement gets another. No it’s not. It’s works fine, virtually no issues over many years.