Using Facetime internationally without international roaming fee?

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Level 1

22 points

Using Facetime internationally without international roaming fee?

I'd like to use Facetime internationally between two U.S. (AT&T) registered iPhones, but don't want to pay international roaming fees to make the initial contact call. Possible? Is there some way to establish a Facetime connection using Wi-Fi only?

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Posted on Jun 26, 2010 9:54 AM

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Answer 1

transco Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 26, 2010 3:53 PM in response to transco

I realize Facetime uses Wi-Fi only, but I was under the impression that the initial handshake (exchanging of IP addresses, etc.) was done via the cellular network. Once the Wi-Fi link is established, the cell network is dropped.

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Answer 2

transco Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 27, 2010 7:10 AM in response to GraphicTodd

If a cell network is not required to make the initial Facetime connection (i.e. to tie your current Wi-Fi IP address to your phone number), how is this being done? Is Apple running a directory server? Again, I'm referring to the initial phone-to-phone handshake, not the Facetime call itself.

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Answer 3

Ainslie

Level 1

10 points

Jun 27, 2010 7:59 AM in response to transco

As stated above "add the person to your address book then at the bottom click facetime." You do not need to make a cell to first in that scenario. You have a 'FaceTime' button under the contact details if they are in your address book. Start a FaceTime call directly without cell call first.

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Answer 4

transco Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 27, 2010 8:47 AM in response to Ainslie

Yes, I understand the procedure from a user standpoint. What I don't understand is how it is being accomplished; i.e. how does the caller know the current Wi-Fi address of the person he is calling? All the caller knows is his phone number. Somehow (some where) that number is being associated with the person's current Wi-Fi address. For example, I use the AIM directory server to find the current IP address of a person I am trying to contact with iChat. Skype has there own directory server.

I realize we are running in circles here. Sorry, I don't know any clearer way to ask the question.

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Answer 5

ilynne

Level 1

0 points

Jun 27, 2010 8:56 AM in response to transco

Your initial question has been answered. Add the person's phone number to your contacts list. You do not need to make a call first. You can just connect via FaceTime.

As for how this works, I don't know, but the protocols are open and you could read them.

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Answer 6

transco Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 27, 2010 10:24 AM in response to transco

Ahhh, a little more digging and I found the answer... Apparently, whenever you join a Wi-Fi network, your iPhone notifies an Apple directory server of your current IP address. The server then stores that information, keyed to your phone number. Nice...

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Answer 7

lllarry

Level 1

0 points

Sep 10, 2010 1:19 AM in response to transco

As I know, iPhone will send an SMS to apple server at the first time you initiate facetime. It will update some kind of table to map your phone number and iphone. It's a one-off process which only run at the first time of using facetime.

Btw, the process need perform again after you refresh your iphone.

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Answer 8

Sep 10, 2010 6:44 AM in response to transco

Hi...
It's all done via IP (TCP and UDP) layer.
I think it's done this way when you try to make a FaceTime call to one of your contacts:
1) Tap the FaceTime button in contact and select the phone number of the other end
2) It registers itself to Apple services with your phone number and IP associated (WiFi one)
3) Query Apple service for IP address associated with phone number selected in step 1)
4) If found, tries to make the FaceTime call between these two endpoints

Very roughly explained.. I didn't trace the whole process into much detail.
So answer for you is, you should not pay a cent(penny or whatewer) for FaceTime call.
Hope I'm not wrong 😉

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Answer 9

i_max2k2

Level 1

0 points

Apr 24, 2011 4:16 PM in response to transco

I can verify it doesnt use cellular network at all. I called with air-plane mode enabled, and with wifi turned on, the call worked perfectly, and this was a international call. So if in any doubt enable air-plane and do facetime.

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Answer 10

burdic26

Level 1

0 points

Jul 10, 2011 11:15 PM in response to transco

In Korea I haven't been able to facetime on my iPhone with any of my contacts.

I use my wifi very often. Though, my AT&T sims card doesn't work here. I think facetime on iPhone uses your phone number or sim card as your ID, whereas iPod Touch uses an email as your facetime ID.

It is very unfortunate, I wish I could use facetime with just an email address!

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Answer 11

ik8sqi2

Level 1

45 points

Apr 8, 2012 2:41 PM in response to transco

To add to the mystery. Using iOS 5.1. I have two iPhones with me and am located in the US. One of the phones has an AT&T SIM, the other a SIM from an italian carrier (a family member is visiting me). We both have each other in the other's contacts, so we initiate the FaceTime call form the contacts screen.

Whenever I make a Face Time call from one to the other, under "Settings - General - Usage - Cellular Usage - Current Period" the minutes increasde by one on both phones. This would indicate I'm using a minute, furthermore incurring in roaming charges.

I then tried placing both iPhones in Ariplane mode, and then turned on WiFi only. There's absolutely no cell phone active on neither phone at this point. I try to make another Face Time call, and we do get connected (without having the cell phone radio on). When I go back in the "Settings - General - Usage - Cellular Usage - Current Period" however, the cell usage minutes has incremented by 1 minute on both phones, even though the cell radio was off.

There's definetely a bug here somewhere. Either the Airplane Mode is not working, and the iPhones use the cell radio even though it was supposed to be turned off, or the cell minutes counter is not working properly, counting minutes even if the cell phone is not being used.

I'll find out the truth in a few days when looking at the phone bill....

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