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abitalib98

Q: will facetime in able in my phone if i use the sim of a carrier that supports factime

will face time be enabled in my phone if i use the sim of a carrier that supports facetime

iPhone SE, iOS 9.3.5, bought in ksa

Posted on Aug 26, 2016 1:59 PM

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Q: will facetime in able in my phone if i use the sim of a carrier that supports factime

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  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Aug 26, 2016 2:18 PM in response to abitalib98
    Level 9 (57,152 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 26, 2016 2:18 PM in response to abitalib98

    Probably not. Most of the devices sold there have it permanently disabled, although some carriers can enable it. No one could be sure here. And that is only when you are in that local geographic location. Ask the carrier.

  • by Niel,Solvedanswer

    Niel Niel Aug 27, 2016 4:14 PM in response to abitalib98
    Level 10 (311,916 points)
    Aug 27, 2016 4:14 PM in response to abitalib98

    Only if iPhones which originate from your country have AB, AE, or possibly AH just before the / in their model numbers. If the country code is something else, you won’t be able to get FaceTime on your iPhone even if the carrier supports it.

     

    (144257)

  • by abitalib98,

    abitalib98 abitalib98 Aug 27, 2016 4:18 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 27, 2016 4:18 PM in response to Niel

    MY model number starts with A then numbers

  • by Niel,Helpful

    Niel Niel Aug 27, 2016 4:35 PM in response to abitalib98
    Level 10 (311,916 points)
    Aug 27, 2016 4:35 PM in response to abitalib98

    That’s not a model number. On the device, choose Settings, General, and About, and look for a series of numbers and letters starting with M and containing a slash. The one or two letters just before the / are the ones which say where it came from.

     

    (144293)

  • by abitalib98,

    abitalib98 abitalib98 Aug 27, 2016 4:36 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 27, 2016 4:36 PM in response to Niel

    Thank you niel thankfully its ae so i still have a chance with facetime

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Aug 27, 2016 7:43 PM in response to abitalib98
    Level 9 (54,952 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 27, 2016 7:43 PM in response to abitalib98

    All iPhones sold legally in KSA have FaceTime permanently disabled. That phone will never have FaceTime.

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Aug 27, 2016 8:30 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 10 (311,916 points)
    Aug 27, 2016 8:30 PM in response to KiltedTim

    All iPhones sold legally in KSA have FaceTime permanently disabled. That phone will never have FaceTime.

     

    I originally thought so, but at least two people have reported getting FaceTime on them by inserting a SIM card from a Middle Eastern country which doesn’t ban FaceTime. Those iPhones didn’t have it when taken outside the Middle East, so they definitely originated from within that region instead of being illegal imports.

     

    (144296)

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Aug 28, 2016 5:35 AM in response to Niel
    Level 9 (54,952 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 28, 2016 5:35 AM in response to Niel

    They very well could have been brought into KSA from a neighboring country where FaceTime is not banned and re-sold. Phones intended for original sale in KSA and UAE will never have FaceTime. If that policy had changed, I would think it would have been all over the tech press.

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Aug 28, 2016 5:57 AM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 10 (311,916 points)
    Aug 28, 2016 5:57 AM in response to KiltedTim

    I’ve seen part of how it’s actually implemented, and have reached other conclusions based on posts on these boards and information in Apple’s Knowledge Base:

     

    1. An internal configuration file disables FaceTime on iOS devices that have AB, AE, or possibly AH as their country codes.

    2. SIM cards for certain Middle Eastern carriers override the lockout from #1.

    3. No card from Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates will do #2.

    4. Aside from the originally-installed SIM card, there isn't any difference between Saudi Arabian and Egyptian iPhones regarding FaceTime.

     

    (144298)