When iOS 6 was announced one of the biggest new additions to the OS was the FaceTime over cellular feature. Previously to make FaceTime calls you needed a WiFi connection. Now with iOS 6 you could do the same using your cellular network. Nearly all cellular networks were on board except AT&T. Instead of letting anyone use the video chat feature no matter the device or data plan, AT&T decided to keep FaceTime limited to customers with new Mobile Share plans. Those with traditional data plans were left out. Needless to say AT&T got a lot of negative press, and deservedly so.
Now they have amended the FaceTime over cellular policy.
AT&T today announced it will enable FaceTime over Cellular at no extra charge for iOS 6 customers with an LTE device on any tiered data plan. AT&T will also continue to offer FaceTime over Cellular to customers with any AT&T Mobile Share plan, as well as FaceTime over Wi-Fi, which has always been available for all customers. AT&T expects to roll out this functionality to customers over the next eight to ten weeks.
As part of its commitment to serving customers with disabilities, AT&T is also making FaceTime over Cellular available to deaf and hard of hearing customers who qualify for special text and data-only packages.
It’s a better approach than the previous one but still leaves a lot of holes uncovered. Remaining unlimited data customers won’t be getting FaceTime over cellular in the near future. You need to be on a LTE device if you want to use FaceTime with a tiered plan, and 3G devices like the iPhone 4S have to be on a new Mobile Share plan. Verizon and Sprint on the other hand have absolutely no restrictions on FaceTime over cellular.