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Well, it’s no secret that AT&T ruffled some feathers with its decision to make FaceTime over cellular available only to those on shared data plans. After what we can only assume was some deep soul searching, the carrier has shifted gears… a little. Now you’ll be able to fire up the video chat app on your iOS 6 device over LTE, so long as you’re on one of the new tiered data plans. If you’re still rockin’ one of those unlimited data plans — or if you’re unable to hop onto LTE due to device choice or locale — you’re still out of luck. The company explained the decision to initially limit the availability of the feature was due to the number of iPhones on its network. In other words, it didn’t think its infrastructure was ready to handle a sudden surge of video calls. FaceTime over cellular will slowly become available to those on Ma Bell’s tiered data plans over the next eight to ten weeks. For a few more details, check out the PR after the break.

Update: AT&T tells us that you don’t need to be actively using LTE, just have a device that supports it. That’s an odd way to partition customers, although it does mean that there’s more of a safety net for areas where LTE isn’t widespread.

Continue reading AT&T decides to offer FaceTime over cellular, but only on LTE devices with tiered data plans (update: sometimes on 3G)

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Apple, AT&T

AT&T decides to offer FaceTime over cellular, but only on LTE devices with tiered data plans (update: sometimes on 3G) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple’s video calling software application known as FaceTime is a strong selling point in today’s tough consumer electronics industry. But the tables could turn, now that the Cupertino-based tech behemoth is receiving a blow out of the water. A Texas-based firm called Intercarrier Communications (ICC) has just filed a patent complaint against Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for allegedly violating its 6,985,748 patent. The patent being questioned is called “Inter-carrier messaging service providing phone number only experience.”

The patent, as described, involves subscriber to subscriber messages that are routed between carrier’s networks using an inter-carrier messaging module with appropriate MIN/carrier/carrier routing look-up capabilities. In short, ICC is claiming that Apple’s FaceTime and Messages apps on iOS and OS X are infringing their own patent. Patently Apple reported that ICC has filed several lawsuits against other companies as well including MobiWeb, Inerop Technologies, BroadSoft, and Iris Wireless. Intercarrier Communications is seeking an award for the damages that Apple has allegedly caused. Apple declined to comment about the complaint.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Dutch court rules in Samsung’s favor in patent infringement case with Apple, Apple wins against Motorola in Germany over “rubber banding” patent,

There were a lot of angry AT&T iPhone owners when AT&T made it clear that it would allow FaceTime over its 3G mobile network, but it would charge more for the privilege of using the service. Other major carriers such as Sprint and Verizon allow iPhone users to enjoy FaceTime over the mobile network without any additional fees. Earlier this month, AT&T’s plan to charge more led to multiple consumer organizations to notify AT&T that they planned to file formal complaints with the FCC.

Only a few days after those complaints were made known to AT&T by the consumer groups, the FCC has announced that it will review the objections and “exercise our responsibilities” if necessary. The statement comes from FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, although he said he couldn’t comment specifically on AT&T at this time. He noted that if a good faith effort to resolve the issue doesn’t lead to a resolution the FCC would look into it.

Consumer watchdog organizations claim that the FCC’s Open Internet rules prohibit arbitrarily limiting a service like FaceTime over specific networks. This appears to be exactly what AT&T is doing with FaceTime by charging users more to access the service. No formal complaints have been filed with the FCC at this time according to reports.

AT&T continues to maintain that it is compliance with FCC rules on network neutrality. AT&T believes it is compliant with its FaceTime blocking because the application comes pre-installed. AT&T believes that net neutrality rules only apply to downloaded applications.

[via The Verge]

FCC promises to review objections against AT&T FaceTime fees is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Public advocacy groups aren’t all that impressed with AT&T’s justifications for limiting FaceTime access over 3G and 4G to those who spring for its costlier Mobile Share plans. Free Press, Public Knowledge and the Open Technology Institute have served formal notice to AT&T that they plan to file a net neutrality complaint with the FCC within 10 days. It’s not hard to understand why, given the groups’ existing pro-neutrality stances: the Free Press’ policy lead Matt Wood argues that the carrier is unfairly pushing iOS users into plans they don’t need, a particularly sore point for iPad-only customers that have no AT&T phones to share. We’ve reached out to AT&T for comment, although we’re not expecting a change from its position that allowing app use over WiFi makes its restrictions okay. As for the FCC? It’s mum on the current situation. A literal reading of its net neutrality rules, however, doesn’t include a WiFi exemption and might not favor AT&T when Skype video is allowed and Verizon has no problems with unrestricted access.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Advocacy groups notify AT&T of net neutrality complaint with the FCC over FaceTime restrictions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While Verizon has been upfront about the fact that it won’t let you keep grandfathered unlimited data plans with a new iPhone 5, it is softening on one point: the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the carrier will let you use FaceTime for no extra charge, regardless of what data plan you’re on. More »