Why can't Facetime use 4g connection Instead of WiFi

One, there is no 4G, guess you mean 3G data connection.

As for why, it is because the carriers said no because they cannot take the congestion on their networks.

Ok they say that but all the other carriers have it, and AT&T claim to have best system. Bottom line we all payed good money for a producted that you would think do it all like thay say and the smallest thing they refuse to do! LOL , come on if you jailbreak it ...it was proven it works so it just means they refuse to update to let it work. Verizon on 1/11/11 is going to say they are selling the iphone now and i bet you there's will work on either way. Dont get me wrong i just wish they would just do it and make everyone happy....

Maybe because:

a) AT&T does not have a 4G network.
b) The iPhone 4 does not support any 4G networks (It lacks the hardware to connect to one).
c) There is no such thing as a 4G network in the US from any of the major carriers. Don't buy into the marketing hype.

All the other carriers have what?

All other carriers don't have anywhere near the number of smart phones on their network as AT&T does on their network and all other carriers certainly don't have multiple millions of iPhones on their network as AT&T has on their network.

When the iPhone 4 was announced, Apple indicated FaceTime would be available via 3G sometime this year, and this year just started - it is only January 10th.

And we payed good money - AT&T paid more than you did if you purchased an iPhone at AT&T's subsidized or discounted price. AT&T paid Apple $400 on your behalf if you purchased the iPhone at the subsidized price - you paid either $199 or $299, and AT&T paid Apple the difference between the subsidized price and the full retail sales price.

FaceTime may work on Verizon's slower CDMA network, but you certainly won't be able to place or receive any calls while actively accessing the internet with Verizon's network. You can't access the internet and place or receive a call at the same time with a CDMA network.

Allan Sampson wrote:
All other carriers don't have anywhere near the number of smart phones on their network as AT&T does on their network and all other carriers certainly don't have multiple millions of iPhones on their network as AT&T has on their network.

Carriers like Verizon have many more laptop broadband customers, who along with their smartphone users who are not restricted to wifi for a lot of things, use more data than all the phones on ATT.

And we payed good money - AT&T paid more than you did if you purchased an iPhone at AT&T's subsidized or discounted price. AT&T paid Apple $400 on your behalf if you purchased the iPhone at the subsidized price - you paid either $199 or $299, and AT&T paid Apple the difference between the subsidized price and the full retail sales price.

This is true. AT&T has about a half billion dollars tied up in iPhone subsidies.

FaceTime may work on Verizon's slower CDMA network, but you certainly won't be able to place or receive any calls while actively accessing the internet with Verizon's network. You can't access the internet and place or receive a call at the same time with a CDMA network.

If someone uses an SVDO capable chipset, they can. Or implements VoIP.

angelbyte04 wrote:
Is there anyway we can use 4g connection for facetime? or maybe at least have the option to use it where there is no WiFi connection?

Welcome to Discussions, angelbyte04

The only way I can suggest is to get a 4g wi-fi hotspot from your service provider. Which
you get will depend on who you use, but I think one like this Sprint example could allow it:

  http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-10428038-269.html


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You meant to say 3g instead. In due time, I believe that you will be able to use FT over celluar. Keep in mind that skype, at one time, too, was only restricted to Wi-Fi. Then, boom, ATT changed their data plans (no more unlimited), and, suddenly, we've got more 3g "streaming" type applications available. Alternatively, jailbreaking the iphone will allow for FT over 3G. But, of course, not without its problems. I don't recommend JBing the iphone btw. cheers ds

Carriers like Verizon have many more laptop broadband customers, who along with their smartphone users who are not restricted to wifi for a lot of things, use more data than all the phones on ATT.

Carriers like Verizon in the U.S.? There is only one other major CDMA carrier in the U.S. which is Sprint. So which other major carriers like Verizon make up this plural? And AT&T doesn't have laptop broadband customers as well?

This is true. AT&T has about a half billion dollars tied up in iPhone subsidies.

I believe it is more than that. About half a billion dollars equates to about 1.25 million iPhones sold at AT&T's subsidized or discounted price, and I venture to say the number is much greater than that - of course the total amount is being decreased or written off gradually each month along but new iPhone sales each month at the subsidized or discounted price adds to it.