FaceTime audio to landline

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Level 2

245 points

FaceTime audio to landline

I'm a bit confused, firstly by Apple's UI in the FaceTime app (iOS7) and secondly about what FaceTime Audio in iOS7 can actually do.

Question : Can FaceTime Audio be used to make a call to a landline, via WiFi and/or via cellular and if so, then how do you do this?

(Comment : FaceTime iOS7's UI is confusing, because when you open the FaceTime app, you expect to be using only FaceTime, but in fact, if you make a call by clicking on the telephone icon, it may well be a regular mobile call, which could be international. I have read a thread here on ASC, which looks like this has happened to a few people, much to their surprise/missunderstanding and to the detriment of their bank accounts. Honestly, you'd have thought those days were over. This is still way to complicated.)

Posted on Jan 6, 2014 6:18 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 29, 2017 10:54 AM in response to Grant Symon

I know it's an older thread, but it comes up in search. Using Google Voice you get an actual phone number and uses data. It's part of Hangouts I believe. Not sure if WhatsApp gives you an actual phone number or not.

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Answer 2

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Jan 6, 2014 6:32 AM in response to Grant Symon

Grant Symon wrote:

Question : Can FaceTime Audio be used to make a call to a landline, via WiFi and/or via cellular and if so, then how do you do this?

No. FaceTime calls, either audio only or video + audion can only be made to iOS devices or Mac computers. Nothing more than any other VOIP service, except this is iOS device to iOS device or Mac computer only.

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Answer 3

Grant Symon Author

Level 2

245 points

Jan 6, 2014 6:51 AM in response to wjosten

Thanks wjosten,

FWIW, there are other VOIP services/apps which provide calling to landlines. I use Libon for which I pay a supplement of 5eur per month to my phone company (Orange France) and which allows VOIP to landlines/mobiles over wifi+cellular on my iPhone4. I'd like to have dropped it in favor of FaceTime Audio, because the quality of FaceTime is much better. Ho hum.

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Answer 4

May 3, 2014 9:30 PM in response to Grant Symon

This is incorrect information. I use facetime voice all the time when making calls because it has:

1) Improved voice quality to any phone when using your iPhone 5S in facetime data mode
2) No dead zones compared to cell phone mode.

3) I use about .5 GB per day on face time phone calls to other phones.

4) I have unlimited data

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Answer 5

Grant Symon Author

Level 2

245 points

May 20, 2014 2:38 AM in response to Spellfound

Actually, the question I asked was if FaceTime can be used to call a 'landline'. The answer for the time being, is no.

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