When I try to FaceTime now, a screen appears that wants me to send a text message to the recipient. The ability to make a direct call is gone.

When I try to make a FaceTime call I get forced onto a page entitled "New Face Time" It asks me to Invite Participant though Text messaging (Green Bar at Bottom). When I put the name or phone # of the person I'm trying to reach my only option is to active the messaging function which takes me to a new screen with a blue bar "Join My Facetime" and a couple green bars. None of them activate. There is a white Facetime icon below entitled "Facetime Link". That also does not active. I'm hesitant to put in a subjective comment, but this is about as bad as it gets for someone who relies on Facetime, and is abruptly put offline.