Iphone 7 plus - No Facetime

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TristanRic Author

Level 1

9 points

Iphone 7 plus - No Facetime

Product Name: iPhone 7 Plus, 256GB/ 3gb

Purchase Location: Saudi Arabia

Model No. MN512AE/A

Experience with APPLE: First Time (Owner or User)

I just bought this mobile, and i realized it has no Facetime. I remember reading before that Facetime is carrier dependent but i am not sure. I saw some iPhones here had Facetime so i was wondering if:

1. Will i be able to get Facetime here in SAUDI ARABIA?

2. Will i be able to get Facetime when i return to the Philippines?

3. How/When/Where can i install Facetime? (if it is possible)

Note: Please give as much detail as possible since i am not familiar with using/navigating iOS or any Apple products.

Thank you very much.

iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 10.2

Posted on Dec 26, 2016 9:24 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

746,051 points

Dec 26, 2016 9:35 PM in response to TristanRic

1. No.

2. No.

3. Take it to Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, or Kuwait; FaceTime is carrier-dependent on those iPhones, and only a small number of carriers enable it on them. iPhones originating from Turkey, Israel, or outside the Middle East have FaceTime enabled on the units themselves, so SIM cards from outside the region won’t enable it on yours.

(147013)

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Answer 2

remolanot

Level 2

259 points

Dec 28, 2016 4:23 AM in response to TristanRic

You purchased your iPhone 7 Plus in Saudi Arabia, which your iPhone is originated from. FaceTime is not available in Saudi Arabia and it was removed or banned.

Also, I have an iPhone 4s that was originated in Saudi Arabia (bought from my dad working in Bahrain). You can check on my discussion down below:

Missing FaceTime in iPhone 4S

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Answer 3

sberman

Level 10

275,352 points

Dec 26, 2016 9:25 PM in response to TristanRic

TristanRic wrote:

Purchase Location: Saudi Arabia

An iPhone purchased in Saudi Arabia will never be able to use or acquire FaceTime.

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Answer 4

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

746,051 points

Dec 28, 2016 6:28 AM in response to TristanRic

1. Yes.

2. No, they can't. It’s dependent on the SIM card.

3. It’ll be enabled in the first six countries I listed because iPhones originating from them have the same model numbers and FaceTime. Neither ones originating from any of them nor the countries where it’s banned will have FaceTime outside the Middle East.

(147057)

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Answer 5

TristanRic Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 28, 2016 2:57 AM in response to Niel

Let me see if i understand your reply to #3 correctly...

How i understand:

Take it to Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, or Kuwait; FaceTime is carrier-dependent on those iPhones, and only a small number of carriers enable it on them.

If i bring my iPhone to either of these countries, i will be able to get Facetime depending on the carrier that i choose?

iPhones originating from Turkey, Israel, or outside the Middle East have FaceTime enabled on the units themselves

Facetime is enabled, means that it is a software, which can be enabled or disabled depending on your location? So if i go to an Apple store, they can enable it for me in the Philippines? but ofcourse, i cannot use it if i bring it back to SAUDI...

so SIM cards from outside the region won’t enable it on yours.

This contradicts with the first part of your reply??

Thanks BTW for your detailed and well thought reply..

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