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Screenshot
A FaceTime call from an iPhone 4S |
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| Developer(s) | Apple |
| Initial release | June 24, 2010 (iPhone 4) |
| Stable release | iOS 5.0[1] / October 12, 2011 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | iOS 4 and later, Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later |
| Type | Videotelephony |
| License | Freeware |
| Website |
FaceTime for iPhone |
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Screenshot
A FaceTime call from a Mac computer |
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| Developer(s) | Apple |
| Initial release | February 24, 2011 |
| Stable release | 1.1.1 / October 12, 2011 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.6.6 and later |
| Size | 16.8 MB |
| Available in | English, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish |
| Type | Social networking |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www.apple.com/mac/facetime |
FaceTime is a video calling software application and related protocol developed by Apple for supported mobile devices running the iOS, in addition to Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.6.6 and higher. FaceTime is supported on any iOS device with a forward-facing camera (that is, all iOS devices released since the iPhone 4) and on any Macintosh computer equipped with a FaceTime Camera (formerly known as an iSight Camera).
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FaceTime was announced by then Apple CEO Steve Jobs at his keynote speech on June 7, 2010 at the WWDC 2010 in conjunction with the iPhone 4. Support for the fourth-generation iPod Touch, the first iPod Touch to be equipped with cameras, was announced in conjunction with this device's release on September 8, 2010.
The "FaceTime" name was purchased by Apple from FaceTime Communications, who changed their name to Actiance, Inc.[2]
FaceTime for Mac OS X was announced on October 20, 2010 at the "Back to the Mac" Media event on the Apple Campus.
On February 24, 2011, FaceTime left beta and was listed in the Mac App Store for $0.99 (£0.69). Apple claims that it intended to provide the application free of charge, but was prohibited by the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 from providing an unadvertised new feature of an already sold product without enduring 'onerous accounting measures'.[3] However, the free beta is still available for download from the Apple servers.[4] It is, however, included for free in Mac OS X Lion.
On March 2, 2011, FaceTime support was announced for the newly-introduced iPad 2, which gained forward- and rear-facing cameras.
FaceTime works by connecting an iPhone 4 or newer iPhone, a fourth generation iPod touch, a second generation iPad, or a computer with Mac OS X to another similar device; the previous generations of iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad are not currently supported. FaceTime is not compatible with non-Apple devices or any other video calling services. The early 2011 revision of the MacBook Pro introduced high-definition FaceTime which may only be used with devices that have a HD FaceTime camera.
On the iPhone, FaceTime works in the Phone application instead of being a separate application. It can be activated when in the Phone application by placing a call, and pressing the FaceTime button. The FaceTime button replaced the Hold button (which is now available by pressing and holding the Mute button). The icon resembles a camcorder. It is also possible to initiate a FaceTime call directly from a contact file.
While the current FaceTime implementation for the iPhone does not officially support FaceTime calls over 3G (UMTS/HSPA, EVDO) there are 3rd party applications that enable this capability for jailbroken devices.[5]
FaceTime over 3G can only be achieved by using third-party software programs for jailbroken iOS, such as FaceBreak, 3G Unrestrictor or My3G, which fool the phone into believing that it is connected via Wi-Fi.[6][7] These programs are only available on jailbroken iPhones via the Cydia Store. At the moment there are no free of charge solutions to unrestrict FaceTime. However, there is a possibility to manually edit certain files on the iPhone to allow Facetime 3G calls.[8] FaceTime uses about three megabytes of data per minute of conversation.[9] However, cellular talk time/minutes aren't used after switching from a voice call to a FaceTime call.
FaceTime on first generation iPad is also possible by porting the FaceTime application for the iPod touch 4th gen to iPad.[10]
iOS 4.1 (or above) and FaceTime for Mac, iPhone 4, and iPod Touch (4th Generation) supports the use of an Apple ID email address to initiate a FaceTime call.
The FaceTime protocol is partly based on numerous open industry standards.[11]
FaceTime is based on numerous technologies:
Upon the launch of the iPhone 4, Jobs promised that Apple would immediately start working with standards bodies to make the FaceTime protocol an "open standard." As of June 2011[update], it is not yet known to have been ratified by any standards body, and the extent of work by Apple with regard to this promise is unclear as Apple has not released technical specifications for the service. FaceTime is not currently supported on any non-Apple devices.
While FaceTime is based on open standards, Apple's FaceTime service requires a client-side certificate.[12] I.e. while the protocol might become an "open standard", access to Apple's FaceTime service is controlled by Apple.
As of October 2010[update], FaceTime is not enabled on devices bought in United Arab Emirates possibly due to regulations in this country which restrict the use of IP-based communications technology. Devices bought elsewhere continue to support FaceTime even in this country.[13]
Although Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, & Kuwait used to disable FaceTime on the iPhone 4, they are re-enabling the feature back through a carrier update for existing phone owners and made it pre-enabled on any newly purchased iPhone 4.
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