Facetime is missing on iPhone 4S

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Facetime is missing on iPhone 4S

My mom's new iPhone 4S doesn't support Facetime, which is totally wired.

At the beginning I restored her new iPhone from a backup of her old iPhone 3GS. I thought that the reason for the missing feature "Facetime" is that I tried to restore her new iphone with a backup of an old iphone.

Then, I decided to start over with a fresh and clean firmware. I restored her iPhone through iTunes, in order to reset it to its factory state. After the process finished, I went through Settings > Phone and still couldn't find the "Facetime" feature. I really don't know what to do anymore. I've been working on it for two hours!!

Do you guys have any suggestions? I would really like to hear any 🙂

Thanks in advance!

iPhone 4S, iOS 6.0.2

Posted on Jan 28, 2013 3:13 PM

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Answer 1

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razmee209

Level 10

191,304 points

Jan 28, 2013 3:16 PM in response to idodo

Where did you mom by the phone at?

using facetime http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4319

troubleshooting http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3367

activation http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4268

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Answer 2

idodo Author

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Jan 28, 2013 3:27 PM in response to razmee209

I am not sure. She got it from the company where she works. One of the employees, who is an IT expert, said that an iTunes restore will probably solve the problem, but as I see it now, nothing's gonna work. 😟

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Answer 3

razmee209

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Jan 28, 2013 3:27 PM in response to idodo

if you can find out what model she has settings - general - about - model.

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Answer 4

idodo Author

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Jan 28, 2013 3:28 PM in response to razmee209

it says MD235AE/A

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Answer 5

razmee209

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Jan 28, 2013 3:29 PM in response to idodo

Ok, that might be the problem. Usually a model number ending in AE will not have facetime.

Is her company based in the middle east? Facetime is banned by the government in some middle east countries.

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Answer 6

idodo Author

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Jan 28, 2013 3:34 PM in response to razmee209

Yes. Her company is located in Israel, in the middle east. Is that mean that Facetime isn't supported here? This is kind of wired because I know some people who have Facetime on their devices and it works fine (and they live in Israel as well)

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Answer 7

razmee209

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191,304 points

Jan 28, 2013 3:36 PM in response to idodo

I believe you can use facetime in Israel. But the company may have bought the phone where facetime is restricted by the government. Since her model phone end in AE - she will not have facetime on her phone.

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Answer 8

idodo Author

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Jan 28, 2013 3:38 PM in response to razmee209

Is there any way to "fake" the model or something like that? so that she will get Facetime although it is benned?

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Answer 9

razmee209

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Jan 28, 2013 3:39 PM in response to idodo

See this link http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

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Answer 10

paulcb

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Jan 28, 2013 3:40 PM in response to idodo

FT is not banned in Israel. Perhaps her phone originated from UAE or SA, both of which ban FT.

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Answer 11

razmee209

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Jan 28, 2013 3:40 PM in response to idodo

No, in order for your mom to use facetime, she will have to get a phone that wasn't bought in the middle east.

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Answer 12

paulcb

Level 6

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Jan 28, 2013 3:42 PM in response to idodo

No. It's permanently disabled on those iPhones.

Look for similar apps such as Skype, ooVoo, etc.

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Answer 13

idodo Author

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Jan 29, 2013 3:41 AM in response to paulcb

Is it possible to install on this iPhone a formware which support Facetime? Is there any way to install a different model's formware on this iPhone, so that Facetime will not be disabled?

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Answer 14

paulcb

Level 6

19,239 points

Jan 29, 2013 6:05 AM in response to idodo

Sorry, it's not possible.

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