Would a simple firmware update allow video chat with other phones on 3g?

[03sho]

Would a firmware update allow us to use facetime with other mobile phone users on 3g?

 

[Bill Gates]

That's all it would take, but whether or not it will happen is another story. My guess is that it will be touted as a feature in the iPhone "4S."

 

[jonny5alive]

It wouldn't be a simple update because all the other phones use different video encoding standards.

With FaceTime Apple has tried to create its own standard which they want everyone else to now change to.

 

[PaulieORF]

I read somewhere that FaceTime over 3G (or the blocking of) is controlled by the carrier. So, like when AT&T finally supported MMS on their network they pushed out a carrier update through iTunes, I would think that as carriers start allowing FaceTime over 3G, they'll push a very tiny update through iTunes. Of course, this is just based on whatever the heck article it was that I read that suggested that. If that is true, then Apple would have already had to include the appropriate compression and whatnot to do decent video calling over 3G.

EDIT: I think perhaps I misread the original post. I thought you were asking what would have to be done to use FaceTime over 3G, but it looks like you meant with phones other than iPhone.