Q: Apple blocked Face Time in Middle East

they could ask BB to block the service as they did it with Apple.

I think there was misunderstanding between Apple and regulations in the middle East and that stays till now as no official asked Apple to edit it. as (if you remember) when Apple included Qatar within European countries in one of presentations of iPhone 3GS . 

Apple provided the iphone 4 to KSA and UAE in 2 models (MC605AE and MC603AE) which don't have facetime unfortunately and then that spreaded to other middle East countries.

RIM resisted removing BB messenger but then did so when the same countries also asked to have access for tracking RIM email, which they also allowed.

I think Apple has people who know in which countries they cannot sell iOS devices with FaceTime. I seriously doubt there has been any misunderstanding.

You won't answer my question: Why would Apple remove FaceTime? What would they gain?

I did answer the question when I said there could be a misunderstanding, but let me ask you the same question, why the gov blocked facetime while allowing other similar services? what could they gain? if you beleive there are restrictions in KSA and UAE, so why it blocked in all of middle East countries? I'm not with or against govs but I dont see the point that the govs asked Apple to block this feature.

I'm a big fan of Apple but they sometimes do something really unreasonable.

It isn't sold as blocked in all Middle Eastern countries, only those that have informed Apple they will block their import license if it is not removed. The countries where it is restricted do currently restrict BB messenger. They attempt to block use of Whatsapp and others through the ISP or the cell carrier. The way around it, is to use a secure VPN. If that VPN is discovered it is taken down.

There is nothing unreasonable Apple is doing here. They have not misunderstood the governments in question. They have an entire staff that handles import licenses, tariffs, etc. If you purchase an iOS device from an official Apple reseller in one of the countries that restricts it you will not have Facetime.

If another Middle Eastern country, say Tunisisia, who does not have any authorized iPhone resellers, has a store that buys an iPhone sold in the KSA and then unofficially sells it in Tunisia it still will never have FaceTime on it.

It's entirely possible that the governments wanted to block facetime because they are not capable of tapping into, and monitoring those communications as they can with others.

Facetime is NOT blocked in all of the Middle East. It is explicitly banned in KSA and UAE and was at one time banned in Qatar. Phones purchased in other countries in the ME may have facetime disabled if they are used with carriers outside of those in their own countries.

Apple didn't make the choice to do these things, they did them because they had to as a condition of doing business in those countries. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?

why don't you post these questions to the people who actually blocked it - the government?

final comment, some big stores in Saudi Arabia (such as Best Buy in US) sell iPhone and iPod with facetime, if the gov behind the blocking so why it didnt take the license from these stores?

for more info, facetime was avilable on iPhone 4 on iOS 4.0.2 when it became availabe then the update (4.1) removed facetime, so why Apple doesnt bring it back to customers when they are out of these countries?

for people who say that Apple stated on the website that FT may not be available in some countries, so how about people who go to store to buy iphone or ipod for first time and know nothing about FT then detected that one of the most importent features is blocked? do they have to read everything on Apple website before they buy?

summary:

1- if you say the gov who blocked it: why gov allows some stores to sell iphone with FT, and also allowing other same services from other providers.

2- if you say the carrier who blocked it: why you can facetime through the cellular?

3- if you say Apple who blocked it: why would they do it?

the mystery continues..

wow707707 wrote:

 

final comment, some big stores in Saudi Arabia (such as Best Buy in US) sell iPhone and iPod with facetime

Those iPhones have been imported to the country and re-sold illegally.

There is no mystery. It is banned by the government. Talk to them.

If they blocked FaceTime, do you think they're behind blocking "Flash" on the iPhone? Now that's a good question to keep this thread going...

sold illegally in the biggest stores in the country??!! gov can not control them but can control Apple?

Believe what you want. I don't care any more.

government there cannot control anybody. some entities like apple choose to follow the law.

wow707707 wrote:

 

 

 

the mystery continues..

there is no mystery for anyone except you. the government blocks it, so quit wasting your time here and get the true answer by investigating this with your government. good luck.

Hi all. Hard to follow the full train of thought here, but it seems there is a "new" development, at least from what I can tell.

On devices sold in the US or whatever that already had FaceTime on them, they've been able to work here in the UAE. Friends used it all the time. I was told they would work intra-UAE fine--phone to phone or whatever--but would need a VPN to to UAE-to-UAE FaceTime calls. This used to work this way even between my wife and I, FaceTime to FaceTime in the UAE.

Now, the calls can be made (with or without VPN), and calls can be answered, but will not connect. This is inside the UAE phone to phone, and UAE to USA (with and without VPN).

Bottom line: I can't make a FaceTime call no matter what to anyone.

1) Trying to determine if this is common to all people in the UAE, or just me (maybe I've got some bug in my code)

2) Trying to determine who or what made the change, and when it happened.

Anyone out there have any info or suggestions?

Thanks!

It's against the law. Stop trying to break the law. If you want to break the law, broadcasting the fact on public forums probably isn't smart.

If you want to be able to make facetime calls there, lobby the government to change the law.