Steve Jobs initially presented faceTime in 2010 at Apple’s World Developer Conference.
It was initially only compatible with the iPhone 4 (the last phone at the time) but is now available on various Apple products.
The iPod Touch’s compatibility was announced in September 2010, and the iPad’s in March 2011. Since 2011, FaceTime has been officially introduced from the beta version.
Due to a provision by Sarbanes-Oxley (2002) that prevents companies from providing unexpected new features to a product that has already been sold, a beta version of the app is still available in the App Store.
In 2013, Apple announced a new FaceTime Audio feature that allows qualified users to call only audio between Apple devices without using the minutes allocated to their phone plan (this requires a data plan or a Wi-Fi connection).
Due to carrier fear that the app is using too much bandwidth and causing high data costs, FaceTime has only worked over Wi-Fi for a while.
It turns out that using FaceTime on your data network does not consume as much data as you would like.
To see how much a call costs, tap the button next to the person’s name in the FaceTime app, and it will indicate the duration and cost of recent calls.
FaceTime Audio and FaceTime can now be used on any 3G or 4G network (assuming your data plan supports it).
How to Use the App
To use the app, first, ensure it’s installed on your device. Although the app is already being downloaded on all new Apple devices, it is unavailable in the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, or Saudi Arabia due to the restrictions these countries place on IP communication.
From iOS 10, you can also delete the app from your tablet or phone. However, even if you deleted the app, you can download it again for free or use FaceTime through the Phone or Contacts apps.
This face-to-face time does not mean spending quality time in front of the boss. This FaceTime video chat application was developed at Apple.
Apple designed it with an open standard, which means that technically (without any work at home), FaceTime can be used on different platforms, and other manufacturers can use the FaceTime protocol.
However, FaceTime is only available to Apple users. In particular, you can use FaceTime with an iPhone 4, iPad 2, iPod Touch, or Mac, and you will also need to communicate with someone on one of those devices.
However, Apple has rated the FaceTime app so low (currently only 99 cents), so it’s trying to encourage all Apple users to accept this software for their video chat, even if they can only talk to people.
System Requirements for FaceTime
Facetime works over Wi-Fi or through your mobile data plan. You can use FaceTime over Wi-Fi on iPhone 4 or later,iPod Touch 4th, iPad 2 or all iPad mini models, and all iPad Pro models generation or later.
Only the fifth-generation iPod touch and later versions support FaceTime audio calling.
When using your mobile data plan, FaceTime works on iPhone 4s or later, all iPad Pro models, and iPad 3rd generation or later.
To make a FaceTime video and audio call on a Mac, you must use macOS 10.9 or later, have an internet connection, and sign in to FaceTime with your free Apple ID.
It would assist if you also had a built-in or wired microphone and a built-in or wired video call camera for a video call.
The beneficiary of FaceTime communications must have a Mac with macOS 10.9.2 or later, a built-in or connected microphone, an iOS device with iOS 7, or an iPad device.
Group FaceTime video calls require iOS / iPadOS on iPhone 6 or iOS 12.1.4 or later, iPad Air 2 or later, iPad Pro or later, iPad mini four or later, iPad (5th generation ), or iPod touch (seventh generation).
Older iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models that support iOS 12.1.4 can join FaceTime group chats via audio-only.
Launching and Activating FaceTime
FaceTime is integrated with macOS and iOS. iPhones automatically save your FaceTime phone number after activation.
Still, you must activate FaceTime if you use the iPad, iPod touch, or Mac desktop app.
- Run FaceTime from the Applications folder.
- Input your Apple ID and Password, or click Create New Account in the left column, fill in the information (name, email address, location), and click Next.
- Select the phone numbers and email addresses you want to associate with your FaceTime account, and then allow Apple to verify your account information automatically.
- On the iPhone, go to main settings, scroll down, tap FaceTime, and move the slider directly to FaceTime.
- Then verify your phone number and add any email addresses you want to connect with your FaceTime account before granting Apple to prove it.
Make a FaceTime Video Call
There are different ways to make a FaceTime call, depending on the device you’re using.
If you’re using an iPad, iPhone, or FaceTime for Mac app, you must first add someone as a contact using FaceTime or Contacts before you can call.
On the iPhone
- Call via Contacts: While viewing a contact, click the blue FaceTime video icon directly to the right of FaceTime to invite someone else to a FaceTime video call.
- Call via messages: Tap the identifying circle at the top of the contact’s name to invite someone else to a FaceTime video call.
- Phone call: During a phone call, tap the rounded FaceTime video icon in the bottom center to invite someone to make a FaceTime video call.
- Call via Siri: Assuming Siri is on and on allow Hey Siri is activated, you can press and hold the Home key for two seconds or call Siri by saying “Hello Siri” and then “FaceTime Video [contact name]” to get someone. One for a FaceTime video call.
On iPad, iPod touch, or macOS
- Call via Contacts: While browsing a contact, click the FaceTime video icon directly to the right of FaceTime to invite another person to a FaceTime video call.
- Call via FaceTime: Click contact or the dark gray FaceTime button in the right column to connect someone to a FaceTime video call. If available, click the blue FaceTime video icon directly to the right of the contact’s cell phone number.
