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User profile for user: bigRoN18
bigRoN18 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Facetime bandwidth?

I was just curious if anyone knows or have heard of what type of bandwidth will be needed for the Facetime app on the new iPhone 4. Is the requirement for it NOT working with just a 3G network a part of a deal with AT&T or does it require more bandwidth than the 3G makes available. I know that bandwidth is NOT an issue from my home network, but curious if I used a CradlePoint WAP device with my AT&T 3G card (what I'm using to access the Internet as I'm typing this now on my laptop away from home), whether it will trick it into working. I know that when apps greater than a certain size are downloaded, there is a requirement for wifi, but I have no problem downloading them using my 3G card in my laptop.

HP Pavilion Entertainment, Windows Vista, 64-bit Home Premium

Posted on Jun 10, 2010 5:31 PM

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11 replies
User profile for user: Allan Sampson
Allan Sampson
User level: Level 10
123,677 points

Jun 10, 2010 5:39 PM in response to bigRoN18

Not sure - I don't believe much info in this regard is available yet, which should be forthcoming when or after the iPhone 4 is released.

This is not just with AT&T. It is my understanding that FaceTime will be available initially via wi-fi access only in all countries where the iPhone 4 is sold and it may not be available via the cellular network in all countries where the iPhone is sold until LTE networks are rolled out.
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User profile for user: bigRoN18
bigRoN18 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Jun 10, 2010 9:00 PM in response to hilariousness16

I realize that it says WiFi-only, but WiFi does not indicate more bandwidth or even what the bandwidth is. I have been to many public WiFi places where my 3G card was giving me MUCH more bandwidth than the WiFi. My 3G was giving me a little over 1.3 Mbps while the public WiFi was only about 400-600 Kbps. This is why just saying "WiFi-only" isn't an answer... It will probably not work with many public networks. If 1Mbps is sufficient, than using a 3G card plugged into a WiFi access point would allow the app to work.
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User profile for user: Aust1mh
Aust1mh
User level: Level 1
15 points

Jun 10, 2010 10:15 PM in response to Allan Sampson

Allan is right.

Details on Face Time just isn't out there yet. We'll need to get our hands on iPhone 4 to answer your question.

On a side note, i would be happy if Apple didn't "Gimp" the iPhone 4 just because the U.S have bad Telco networks. Australians have been able to make video calls via 3G for years. Let us use Face Time via 3G thanks.
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User profile for user: Allan Sampson
Allan Sampson
User level: Level 10
123,677 points

Jun 11, 2010 4:40 AM in response to Aust1mh

Australians have been able to make video calls via 3G for years.


Do you know how many phones have been sold that include this feature and how often is it used on a daily basis. Is it in the millions of phones that support this feature? AT&T's network may not be up to par with all telco networks throughout the world, but no other telco throughout the world has anywhere near as many iPhones on their network at the same time as AT&T does - not anywhere close, and this makes a difference.
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User profile for user: Daiya
Daiya
User level: Level 4
1,666 points

Jun 11, 2010 6:26 AM in response to bigRoN18

In general, I believe that even though mobile bandwidth is the issue driving the wifi-only regulations, the phone doesn't check actual bandwidth or upstream/downstream speeds when deciding to do something. It looks for the presence of wifi, and if it doesn't see wifi, it won't do it. If it does see wifi, it will.

If that wifi is created by a 3G modem plugged into something broadcasting wifi, I don't think the phone realizes or cares.

Message was edited by: Daiya
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User profile for user: crh24
crh24
User level: Level 3
930 points

Jun 21, 2010 9:20 AM in response to dbacker51

dbacker51 wrote:
Facetime using minutes doesn't make since does it? It's my understanding Facetime is iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 only. Which is AT&T to AT&T, which are free mobile to mobile minutes, right?

You're thinking country specific...what about FaceTime from the US to the UK? Is the UK AT&T? (rhetorical question)
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Facetime bandwidth?

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