Using Facetime over the Cellular Network

Question

Level 1

74 points

Using Facetime over the Cellular Network

I just found out that I am unable to use FaceTime over AT&T's network even though I have updated to IOS6. This is because I have to subscribe to AT&T's SHARED data plan. I have 5 phones on my plan and we all have our own data plan. I would have to purchase 1 Data Plan to be shared amongst all of us. I was unaware of this at the time it was announced by Apple to provide this feature. AT&T also never put out a notification that this would be required in order to do FaceTime over the network. I am very dissappointed in AT&T that they would require the data plan for this feature to work. I am just putting this notification out in case anyone has the same issue.

iPhone 4S, iOS 6

Posted on Sep 19, 2012 9:17 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 20, 2012 5:04 AM in response to GJBPA

You are not the only one disappointed by this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/09/19/att-facetime-net-neutrality_n _1895113.html?1348062041&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

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Answer 2

chapam

Level 1

0 points

Sep 24, 2012 7:15 PM in response to GJBPA

I just got off the phone with AT&T saying that I should transfer to a SHARED plan in order to use Facetime with cellular data. I also noted there is no information on AT&T website of such limitation if you are not selecting a SHARED plan. The operator at AT&T was a little rude by sayting if I am not happy with the product I can return it. I told him the product if fine but their website is misleading to the customers. He replied... "Now you are informed."

I had called AT&T earlier today and at no time they informed me of this. They even had me to call Apple Care to find out if it was a iPhone issue. Apple Care said they received many calls about the same problem and that AT&T had to activate this feature.

Of course this feature will cost more in the end with less data. (5Gigs vice 4Gigs) I don't undersand the technical reason as to why if I pay $50 for data it cannot be used over a regular plan.

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Answer 3

Joe5150

Level 2

339 points

Sep 24, 2012 7:52 PM in response to GJBPA

I too am in the same situation, At&T is apparently attempting to get people who were gradfathered into an unlimited data plan into a more expensive tiered plan. I'm sticking with my cheaper unlimited plan, facetime was never a feature I used all that much anyway.

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