Want FaceTime over Cellular on AT&T? Better have a Mobile Share plan

posted by Alan F. / Aug 17, 2012, 8:07 PM

Want FaceTime over Cellular on AT&T? Better have a Mobile Share plan

"AT&T will offer FaceTime over Cellular as an added benefit of our new Mobile Share data plans, which were created to meet customers’ growing data needs at a great value. With Mobile Share, the more data you use, the more you save. FaceTime will continue to be available over Wi-Fi for all our customers."-AT&T

FaceTime over Cellular is a new feature that is being made available to Apple iPhone users in iOS 6. Previously, FaceTime users had to be on a Wi-Fi network for the feature to work. AT&T is holding the new cellular connectivity for FaceTime as a hostage, offering the service only to those with a Mobile Share plan. The carrier would rather eliminate as many names as possible from its list of grandfathered unlimited data plan users.

AT&T Mobile Share will launch August 23rd and offers users free talk, text and various amount of data per month to cover all of their devices. 1GB will cost you $40 plus $45 for each smartphone on the plan while 20GB runs $200 plus $30 for each smartphone or feature phone. Tablets cost $10 each to be added to a Moble Share Plan. There has been speculation that AT&T would restrict FaceTime over Cellular since evidence to that effect was found in the beta version of iOS 6.

As far as the other major carriers in the U.S. that carry the Apple iPhone, Sprint says that it will not charge for FaceTime over Cellular while Verizon has yet to say if it will have restrictions on the feature.

source: MacRumors via IntoMobile

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26 Comments

1. BabyWade

Posts: 43; Member since: Jun 12, 2012

Ok who didn't see this one coming?

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 8:08 PM 7

23. QWIKSTRIKE

Posts: 1457; Member since: Mar 09, 2010

It's all about VOIP; When VOIP launches data usage and phone calls will be through data transmission. The goal is to heard you to these data plans, and when VOIP launches just imagine a share plan using data to make calls, and communicate regardless of it being, Skype, oovoo, hoodoo....or what ever. That's when carriers start making money, and all shared data will have lots of overage cost on VOIP. Sheep being herded to a plan for monetization of data through VOIP! That's why Verizon, and AT&T want subscriber's to go to shared data.

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 9:33 AM 1

2. TheCastled0

Posts: 5; Member since: Jul 28, 2012

So? I just use Skype on mine, not FaceTime... Skype has always allowed video calls on cellular. But if AT&T does something to skype on iPhones, then I'll be disappointed.

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 8:16 PM 6

22. Non_Sequitur

Posts: 1111; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

Skype is better because it's universal, and not just to iDevices. All of my Apple friends always Facetime and never bothered to get a quick Skype account. xP

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 7:42 AM 1

3. rasinhussy

Posts: 89; Member since: Dec 28, 2008

AT&T & Verizon suck! That is all.

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 9:03 PM 7

4. mas11

Posts: 1034; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

Who cares? With Skype or ooVoo you can talk to anyone on any platform. Facetime is pointless.

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 9:04 PM 7

6. deathyyy

Posts: 101; Member since: Dec 20, 2011

The average consumer cares- They're either A.) Too dull to understand "how Skype works" on their phone, or B.) Too lazy and complain it doesn't "work like a normal phone call, you have to coordinate it!". Edit: Sorry bout that retail rant, hah.

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 9:19 PM 5

7. mas11

Haha it's okay, but the average consumer does use Skype pretty often. It's definitely the most popular PC video calling service.

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 9:24 PM 5

8. deathyyy

Oh I agree, but working in a retail cell store I can definitely say most of my customers either don't know you can use Skype for video chat on your phone over cell data, or actually just have no idea you can get it for your phone at all.. They all make me so sad.

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 9:37 PM 5

18. mas11

People really need to read more about the mobile industry. I mean you're stuck with your phone for two years and it's your primary form of communication so it's pretty damn important.

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 1:45 AM 3

21. dmckay12

Posts: 243; Member since: Feb 25, 2012

For most, it is just a phone. Like people buy a Ford Focus or a Honda Civic because they want a car. They don't really care that there are better options and possible modifications. It is just some car.

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 5:13 AM 1

14. Lucas777

Posts: 2137; Member since: Jan 06, 2011

facetime is extremely easy though if ur already on a call.. when im talking on the phone with someone its easier to just press the facetime button than hang up and make a skype… but unless you are already on the call, ya skype is by far better

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 12:32 AM 1

17. Hunt3rj2

Posts: 396; Member since: Nov 11, 2011

True, but Skype is such a terrible application on Android... It saddens me.

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 1:09 AM 1

5. infernal88

Posts: 113; Member since: Jun 08, 2012

or u can jailbreak and use cydia to get a tweak that let u use face time over 3G !

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 9:19 PM 4

20. halfpint

Posts: 8; Member since: Jan 23, 2012

what tweak?

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 2:41 AM 0

24. infernal88

oh u can always use google to help u search for them but incase u need some keywords search for this anyways there is a ton of tweaks that can do the same :- -my3g -3gvenice

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 9:55 AM 0

9. Allen3697

Posts: 86; Member since: Mar 26, 2012

This is the time for everyone to jump ship from AT&T. Since when has the carrier been given the right to decide what you use your data on??!!

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 9:44 PM 2

10. richardyarrell2011

Posts: 510; Member since: Mar 16, 2011

Just shameful At&t

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 10:10 PM 3

11. joey18

Posts: 648; Member since: Jul 20, 2010

Go for sprint

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 10:24 PM 3

12. xXMAKESHIFTXx

Posts: 38; Member since: Jul 28, 2012

TO BAD SPRINT SERVICE IS MISERABLE?

posted on Aug 17, 2012, 11:01 PM 2

13. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

wow.. ICK. Reminds me why I stay off big blue and big red. I'd like some money in my pocket at the end of the month. Now they want to force you to change to a more expensive plan just to use facetime? Yea.. skype, fring,tango, and a dozen others already got ya covered for no extra. Bite me.

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 12:08 AM 2

15. Lucas777

dont forget facetime3g and other fun things on the jailbreak store...

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 12:33 AM 0

16. sithman

Posts: 299; Member since: Apr 21, 2012

AT&T is moving me closer, and closer to sprint. Once they get LTE in Vegas I'm out.

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 12:49 AM 0

19. Forsaken77

Posts: 553; Member since: Jun 09, 2011

I think we're all overlooking one HUGE factor here.... this only affects iPhone users, so who cares? ;)

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 1:45 AM 2

25. remixfa

because if they are dumb enough to do it, they will assume customers with other phones will be dumb enough as well and it will filter to everyone.

posted on Aug 18, 2012, 11:45 AM 1

26. Forsaken77

Well you know if AT&T is doing it, then Verizon won't be far behind. I wonder if Apple is gonna chime in on this blatant exploit of their phones' services?