FaceTime over 3G

**zephxiii** · 08-18-2012, 07:38 PM

Faceting doesn't interface with Android .....so don't care as others. I don't even use it over wifi. I have used Google+ video chat before though :-)

Sent from my MB865 Atrix 2.

**silentjudge** · 08-18-2012, 08:04 PM

Well even Google doesn't let you make Google Talk Video or Audio calls over cellular data. Its really lame but at least Skype doesn't make this distinction.

Sent from my Nexus 7

**formercanuck** · 08-18-2012, 10:28 PM

Not that it affects me, but I'll suspect that this one will end up in the courts, much like AT&T's 'unlimited' plans being capped.

This is a borderline case of net neutrality (pay to play), where AT&T is denying service to a specific application if you don't pay up to a more expensive plan.

How does AT&T get around it?
AT&T has device specific 'data' plans (no mention of Internet), and those 'data' plans come with rules on what they cannot do.
If this was an 'Internet' plan, they would already be in violation of Net Neutrality for banning tethering and existing FaceTime over 3g.

I do find it strange that AT&T will ban FaceTime over 3g (unless you pay up) vs. say... Skype. Facetime is more integrated, but only available on iPhone 4 or higher. I use Skype on Ubuntu, Android, iPhone (3gs and 4s) as well as even WebOS (dead OS), and even sometimes... Windows.

**baayers** · 08-19-2012, 04:40 AM

They say its free use for those on the new plans however I would based on common sense logic of AT&T assume that they are still dinging you for the data usage. I noticed they're not being very clear about that and wonder how many people will switch thinking they have unlimited facetime access if they do?

**Jordan T** · 08-19-2012, 04:49 AM

formercanuck,

Dude, "net neutrality" is a concept, not a law. They're violating a principle they don't even agree with. The only net neutrality law in the United States doesn't apply to wireless services.

Verizon has some stricter rules, since they have the upper C-block that had license-specific conditions attached.

CA · 08-19-2012, 04:50 AM

The waters are going to get even more mucked up, now that Microsoft (Large US company) owns Skype and it's baked into Windows RT (a $200.00 tablet) connected to Outlook (Office suite also baked in for the same 200 bucks). Ubiquitousness is going to be hell when it bites the Apple in the ***! Google will also be caught in WTF land! Or not.

This whole thing is a shameful gouge that has just started, and if absorbed will get worse.

**formercanuck** · 08-19-2012, 03:32 PM

People are flocking to Windowz tablet just like they did to ... Zune, WebOS, etc.
HP tablet had Skype baked into it as well, and look where it went. I don't see any big 'craze' for the MS tablet, or Windows Phone as there is for Apple/iOS or Android.

**formercanuck** · 08-19-2012, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by Jordan T

formercanuck,

Dude, "net neutrality" is a concept, not a law. They're violating a principle they don't even agree with. The only net neutrality law in the United States doesn't apply to wireless services.

Verizon has some stricter rules, since they have the upper C-block that had license-specific conditions attached.

For those few that are Apple + Facetime users, it will be an wakeup that the 'plan' is not open, but that AT&T is restricting applications to a device that you already own 'just because' they can, even though a competitor's application is not subject to the same restrictions.

CA · 08-20-2012, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by formercanuck

People are flocking to Windowz tablet just like they did to ... Zune, WebOS, etc.
HP tablet had Skype baked into it as well, and look where it went. I don't see any big 'craze' for the MS tablet, or Windows Phone as there is for Apple/iOS or Android.

The thing is that most everyone has Windows already, and the surface (tablet is bad name for it) is rumored to have Office baked in. I don't know how much an Office upgrade is these days, but I would guess it's about the cost of the surface.

I'm getting one as soon as they are available so I can take my Office on the road with me, and I'll bet others will too.

**formercanuck** · 08-20-2012, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Jordan T

formercanuck,

Dude, "net neutrality" is a concept, not a law. They're violating a principle they don't even agree with. The only net neutrality law in the United States doesn't apply to wireless services.

Verizon has some stricter rules, since they have the upper C-block that had license-specific conditions attached.

I'm curious as to the FCC's response. Also, FaceTime over cellular data appears to be blocked at the carrier level, not the application level, which may require me to tunnel it over SSH if AT&T is filtering by port/protocol.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...facetime-fcc/?

**formercanuck** · 08-20-2012, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by CA

The thing is that most everyone has Windows already, and the surface (tablet is bad name for it) is rumored to have Office baked in. I don't know how much an Office upgrade is these days, but I would guess it's about the cost of the surface.

I'm getting one as soon as they are available so I can take my Office on the road with me, and I'll bet others will too.

I hope I don't ever use Metro UI. Too nauseating.
I use Open Office/Libre Office (its free) MS Office is waay too expensive, and I can't even cut/paste CSV data into a spreadsheet.

CA · 08-20-2012, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by formercanuck

I hope I don't ever use Metro UI. Too nauseating.
I use Open Office/Libre Office (its free) MS Office is waay too expensive, and I can't even cut/paste CSV data into a spreadsheet.

Just select the cells you want from left to right and paste into the target. There is a clipboard icon to use. Presto! You might want to have an empty row just in case, then delete it if you want. The killer feature of RT is that you can import and convert .pdfs, fill then out in word and export as .pdf. I do that now but I have to use other 3rd party apps. There is just many thing in business that are done in office that aren't in other want to be apps. When you get many jobs, one of the things you have to prove is that you passed the intermediate test. There are classes to learn it, but I passed beginner in an hour, and intermediate the next (because I got a headache) day in three ~hours. The college classes take months to drain your bank account to do the same thing. Yes, I asked my uncle who is a chancellor at a major school.

OO still doesn't have an easy way to make an envelope, and I've suggested it many times.

Btw, a light version of office comes with Toshiba for free also.

**formercanuck** · 08-21-2012, 06:06 PM

Not to stay off topic long - OO is for general use (hence why I use it). M$ Office is typically more designed for those typical VBS/MSSQL./Corporate.

I still think that AT&T is going to hear foul play unless they change their approach. IF Apple stated that carriers can charge/allow at their discression, AND AT&T wants to charge a 'FaceTime over cellular fee' then that's acceptable. If its a 'move to this data plan where we allow this application' because... we will block it on your current data plan, then that's not acceptable.

CA · 08-21-2012, 06:37 PM

Most offices use it, that's my point, Office is ubiquitous, OO is not. Has very little to do with VBS/MSSQL. A lot of home users don't have Office because it's expensive, now it's free!

Yes people have cell phones, but aside from a low percentage they aren't going to use FaceTime. They will,imo, use Skype on a phone (most smartphones have it), but more to the point on a 3lb laptop that converts to a tablet. Even your TV, and what the hell maybe your toaster!

In 100 years who will people remember, Steve Jobs or Bill Gates? Steve had no real impact on the world, Mr. Gates cures diseases that kill millions.