FaceTime Story

Until the launch of iOS 6, FaceTime service could only be used through a WiFi connection, but from May 2011, FaceTime started working seamlessly over all the 3G devices including iPhone, iPad, and iPod models which supported it. Now, with the advancement in cellular data services, FaceTime also supports 4G LTE calls on all networks across the globe. Its availability is only limited by some specific operator’s GSM plans.

How Can FaceTime be Used to Call People?

How you call another person using FaceTime completely depends on which device you are using. If you are using an iPhone or a SIM based iPad, you can simply dial the phone number of the person with whom you want to connect to. But, if you are using a Mac OS X device, an iPod, or an iPad, you will have to type the email address of the other person in order to call them. However, FaceTime is a proprietary service, and thus, cannot be used to call people using non-Apple devices.

FaceTime Compatibility

With Wi-Fi, FaceTime can be used on any of the following devices:

• iPhone 4 or later versions
• iPad Mini (All versions)
• iPod Touch 4th Gen or later versions
• iPad 2 or later versions
• With a cellular data connection, you can use FaceTime on the following Apple devices:
• iPhone 4s or later versions
• IPad 3rd Gen or later versions

FaceTime Audio

An audio-only version of Facetime, which was named as “FaceTime Audio” was announced by Apple in 2013 at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference with the release of iOS 7 on 18th Sept 2013. The Audio only version of FaceTime is one of the best available services under the VoIP niche and competes with its mainstream counterparts including Microsoft’s Skype.

As it uses the AAC-LD protocol, it offers high-quality audio calling facility. Also, like its Audio-Video service, Facetime’s Audio calling service is available only on Apple devices.