FaceTime video conferencing coming to the iPhone
There will be a FaceTime button in the Contacts app and on on the Phone screen. Tapping it is all you need to do to initiate a video chat, even if you're already on a voice call. The recipient will get a message saying that a FaceTime session has been requested which can be accepted or rejected. Accept it, and you are video chatting.
Upon release, FaceTime will only work on WiFi connections since Jobs said that some details needed to be worked out with the cellular providers and eventually it will work on 3G connections as well. Jobs said that FaceTime is being taken to the standards bodies, starting tomorrow, in hopes that it can become an industry standard.
After hearing about this, and leaving Steve's reality distortion field, I got to wondering if this will be a popular feature. When I was 12 years old, I saw this technology introduced at the 1964/5 Worlds Fair in Flushing Meadows, NY at the AT&T Pavilion as Picturephones. If I recall properly, the Picturephone was a huge device with a tiny black and white screen that cost around $1200 each, and of course two were needed to talk to anyone. It was a major failure then, and was inexplicably later reintroduced in the early 70's with a huge monthly fee of $125 and an additional charge of $21 per minute. Please remember that this was many years before unlimited calling plans -- each phone call was individually priced and billed. It tanked again, and eventually AT&T had to write it off, taking a loss of somewhere around a billion dollars. It might have been the price that killed it, but I think there was more to it than that.
Back in 1964, I asked my mother if she would ever want to use a Picturephone and was told, "Gawd no!! I don't want to be seen in my curlers." Although many years have passed, I don't think that people have changed all that much. Just because something is a neat technology doesn't mean that people would want to use it. Even at no added cost I wouldn't use it for anything other than a novelty, since many times I don't want to be seen when on the phone. Sure, I can understand its use for special occasions, like when members of your family are traveling or infrequently chatting with friends who live on the other side of the world, but for day to day phone calls, I just can't see it. I don't consider myself "ready for my close-up" each time the phone rings and the majority of people I've spoken to over the years, feel the same.
Let's say that FaceTime does become a standard and is supported by just about all cellphones. Would you use it on a day-to-day basis or is your visual privacy worth more than the benefit, causing you to use the feature very infrequently if at all? For me, it would be a neat thing to have, but it probably won't become a major part of my life.
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At today's WWDC keynote, a new feature of the iOS 4 operating system called FaceTime was announced and demonstrated, bringing iChat like...
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I understand that "Face Time" is wifi only. Now is that "Video is wifi" no AT&T needed. With "Audio" AT&T needed? Meaning (Video portion = wifi free and Audio portion= AT&T calling plan charges) or Video & Audio both =wifi free " no AT&T involvment? If there is no AT&T involved with face time. Then the devices alone are perfect with out phone capbilities. And wouldnt that mean Itouch 4 would have cameras as well? But with is it Video-wifi and Audio-AT&T or Video/Audio-wifi ?
June 09 2010 at 4:53 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThat's exactly what I am wondering. I presume it's audio over the cellular radio and video through the wifi radio. I'm overseas a lot and don't like paying for the high cell rates so mainly use skypeout over wifi for calls (keep the cellular radio off). Would be nice if you had the option to use facetime strictly over wifi...
I've also "heard" that if your phone is jailbroken you can trick it into thinking you are always on wifi. If that is the case, will you be able to use facetime without wifi? Hmm :-O
I have been using video chatting and isight with my whole family for over 5 years now. It was the main reason that my wife got her macbook. It is also a great way for my little one to stay in touch with the grannies that are over 800km away. And on business trips - no telephone charges, you can be quiet, rather than have to say something - as you have to on a telephone call.
Perfect
Videochatting is great. But why does Facetime not connect to iChat? I hope they will change that (and if only for the European Market...)
I want them to add FaceTime to an improved AppleTV product. So I can chat w/ people on their iphones while I'm sitting on my couch :)
June 08 2010 at 10:48 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySorry apple, I love you and your devices, but video calls over 3G have been available in EU since 2003.
Sure, the devices were/still are quirky and iPhone will eat them for breakfast, but I wouldn't be so enthusiastic about the usage of this feature going global if I were you.
Surprise me.
I had this ability with my macbook and have it with my iMac.
I don't use it.
It's uncomfortable talking to someone via video, it's easier to talk on the phone.
Nobody will use this, it's a novelty. I can video chat with my mother, my brother, my friend from work. I chose not to.
And what good is it if you can only use it in your home or another wifi hotspot?
You might as well buy a macbook and get the same functionality as far as the 'facetime' is concerned.
I would have rather seen a new iPod Touch than a front facing camera on the iPhone.
why on earth
1) isn't this called iChat mobile
2) can this thing not talk to ichat on a mac? Over wifi even?
Judging from the FaceTime spot, in order to use it you must have an asian girlfriend. I'm in luck.
June 08 2010 at 2:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGreat article. I'll be using it to stay visually in touch with my baby daughter while traveling for business much like the Apple ad example. Interestingly, I agree with "Ithilien", video chat has been around in Europe for 5+ years.
June 08 2010 at 1:56 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThis is going to be HUGE. The next generation will just take it for granted. And our generation will just not "get it". Ever.
But Jobs shoots for where we're headed. And video chat is absolutely it.
is it really though? how often do you use your iSight camera?
June 08 2010 at 1:43 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replycan anyone say "sexting 2.0" watch out for ur kids when this happens. im 21 and I know what happens to my generation when photo and video are involved
June 08 2010 at 12:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot Apps on TUAW
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