AT&T has officially confirmed that they are extending the ability to use Apple’s FaceTime over Cellular feature to all customers with a compatible iOS device, regardless of whether they are on the carrier’s new shared data plans. Meanwhile, the carrier’s oldest iPhone customers – namely those with grandfathered unlimited data plans – are still unable to take advantage of the feature unless they’re connected to WiFi.
From the AT&T Consumer Blog (via MacRumors):
When FaceTime over Cellular launched in September 2012, we explained that we wanted to roll it out gradually to ensure the service had minimal impact on the mobile experience for all of our customers.
As a result of ongoing testing, we’re announcing AT&T will enable FaceTime over Cellular at no extra charge for customers with any tiered data plan using a compatible iOS device.
This means iPhone 4S customers with tiered plans will be able to make FaceTime calls over the AT&T cellular network. AT&T previously made FaceTime over Cellular available to customers with a Mobile Share plan and those with an LTE device on tiered plans.
Prior to the announcement, FaceTime over Cellular was only available to users with 4G LTE service, or subscribers of AT&T’s shared data plans. AT&T has been the recipient of a great deal of criticism for initially restricting the feature only to shared data plan holders, seemingly in an attempt to lure users onto the new plans.
AT&T’s decision to begin offering the service to additional users is largely due to net neutrality complaints from a number of public service organizations, as well as the threat of a possible legal inquiry from the FCC.
I suppose this is progress – however forced. But I can’t help but think AT&T would have been much better off just opening the service to all users in the first place (even unlimited plan holders), just as Verizon and Sprint did from the very beginning…
