DailyTech - AT&T Opens Up FaceTime Availability (A Little)

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Gadgets AT&T Opens Up FaceTime Availability (A Little)
Tiffany Kaiser - November 8, 2012 6:29 PM

9 comment(s) - last by leexgx.. on Nov 10 at 2:12 PM

(Source: The Verge)

According to AT&T, this availability will reach Cellular customers over the next eight to 10 weeks

AT&T has flip-flopped on its decision to charge iPhone users for FaceTime, and will now expand its availability to users.

Back in August, AT&T announced that it was limiting FaceTime availability to customers with Mobile Share data plans (for free). This meant that users with regular 2GB/4GB data plans or grandfathered unlimited plans were left out. They didn't even have the option to pay for it.

FaceTime has always been available to iPhone 4/4S customers over a Wi-Fi network, but Apple offered the ability to use FaceTime over a cellular connection once iOS 6 beta released.

AT&T's decision to limit FaceTime to certain users caught a lot of criticism from users, and even landed it a FCC net neutrality complaint.

Now, AT&T has changed its mind. The carrier will now enable FaceTime over Cellular for iOS 6 users on any tiered data plan -- for free. The user must have an LTE device, though. Users with grandfathered unlimited plans are still left out of the loop.

AT&T customers with Mobile Share data plans will still be able to use FaceTime for free, as will those with Wi-Fi connections.

According to AT&T, this availability will reach cellular customers over the next eight to 10 weeks.

AT&T was further pressured when Verizon and Sprint announced that they wouldn't charge extra for FaceTime over 3G/LTE.

Source: PR Newswire

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RE: Payback

By rauelius on 11/9/2012 2:00:10 AM , Rating: 2

With T-Mobile becoming more and more viable everyday, I think At&t should be more respectful to their customers...

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RE: Payback

By BillyBatson on 11/9/2012 10:30:58 AM , Rating: 3

More viable? Where did you get that from? AT&T and Sprint have both tried or entertained the idea of purchasing them mainly for th spectrum. You will see tmobile exiting the US market in the near future if they aren't bought out

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