If you're looking forward to FaceTime with your loved ones over a cellular connection when iOS 6 arrives this fall, you might want to switch up your data plan this week if you're an AT&T customer -- it's going to be a requirement.
MacRumors is reporting that AT&T has finally come forward with a statement on how it plans to implement Apple's FaceTime over cellular feature in the upcoming iOS 6 -- and you may not like it.
"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," the carrier noted on Friday. "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."
Did you catch it? FaceTime over cellular will require the company's new Mobile Share data plans, which launch this Thursday, August 23, which means users who choose to remain on their old data plans will not be able to join in the mobile FaceTime fun unless they have a Wi-Fi connection handy.
While this might be considered better than the rumor about AT&T charging separately for this feature, it's important to note that both Verizon Wireless and Sprint have already made it clear they won't be charging for the service, which would seem to indicate it will simply be available to all users.
Of course, the biggest limitation of FaceTime over cellular will actually come from Apple, given that the feature is restricted to iPhone 4S (and presumably the company's next iPhone) and new iPad devices only when iOS 6 finally arrives.
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kmangers
September 25, 2012 at 9:25am
This is ridiculous! I get awesome customer service, etc. The big perk is having the unlimited data plan. Except now I can't use my FaceTime. Crazy. Where is the loyalty to long time customers?! I guess I have to stick to sending video instead. Kinda stinks
brandonwalkermedia
August 20, 2012 at 3:29pm
the Plans are not RipOffs like other networks! it take money to give data. that being siad it was stupid to have Unlimited Data in the first place...
Susie Ochs
August 20, 2012 at 2:43pm
And give up my unlimited plan I've been hanging on to since 2008? You wish, AT&T.
I'm so going to Sprint when both mine and my husband's contracts are up.
brandonwalkermedia
August 20, 2012 at 3:35pm
as a developer i have an iPhone on all the networks (including T-Moble) Sprint gets stuck connecting most of the time (Granted its a beta,) but AT&T (before the last beta) connected the fastest & with out fail. on Verizon i had trouble connecting in Dallas, and SanFran multiple times. Best network for Data Connection has always been AT&T for me, Verizon was the worst (Until Sprint got bigger)
b9bot1
August 20, 2012 at 9:49am
AT&T just wants to force customers to there higher priced RIPOFF shared plan. It has nothing to do with the iPhone or anything else. Data is data and AT&T shouldn't force customers to change there data plan to use FaceTime.
What it will mean is customers will go to Verizon and Sprint for there plans so they can use there data and use FaceTime with whatever plan they want to use. AT&T will lose customers for this blatant screwing of customers, trying to force them to higher priced RIPOFF plans nobody wants and certainly nobody wants to pay for.
