Verizon To Allow FaceTime At No Charge

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It looks like Verizon is one-upping AT&T by allowing FaceTime connections over its 4G LTE network at no extra cost.

Verizon announced that their customers will be allowed free use of FaceTime over 4G LTE if they're not connected to a wifi network. Verizon's competitor Sprint has likewise announced customers will be able to use FaceTime over mobile without additional charge. AT&T customers, meanwhile, will only be able to take advantage of FaceTime over cellular if they've signed up for one of the company's new shared data plans.
 
Since Verizon is the most expensive carrier out there, the assholes better NOT charge extra for something that's built into the damn phone!!!!
 
Maybe I'm missing something, but once iOS 6 hits the 4S users, weren't we supposed to be able to use FaceTime on 3G as well? Will that be adversely affected by this, price-wise? :(
 
ohh, so generous of them to allow this. Why wouldn't this be part of the data plan already on these phones???

"Please Verizon, can I have the extra scraps"
 
That was not the point. The point is competitive markets always benefit the customer.

Oh...well in that case...
im+sorry+kitten.jpg
 
It's in their best interests anyway, as it uses a shitload of data and most iphone 5 uses won't have unlimited.
 
It's in their best interests anyway, as it uses a shitload of data and most iphone 5 uses won't have unlimited.

Ding Ding we have a winner. Though I am still surprised, except for the new shared data plans, verizon still charges for tethering, even on metered data plans... Which I happen to think is insane (pick one, unlimited data with extra service charges OR metered data with no extra service charges).
 
I wonder if AT&T will back track now the other carriers have come out supporting it.

Most likely it will depend on what their grandfather policy is for migrating from 3G to 4G data plans. If you can migrate your unlimited plan with an upgrade then AT&T might let the other carriers do this on their own (they probably have more unlimited users than the other carriers). If you can only migrate your plan with a full price phone then they might consider it. I can't remember what the AT&T policy is on this.
 
Most likely it will depend on what their grandfather policy is for migrating from 3G to 4G data plans. If you can migrate your unlimited plan with an upgrade then AT&T might let the other carriers do this on their own (they probably have more unlimited users than the other carriers). If you can only migrate your plan with a full price phone then they might consider it. I can't remember what the AT&T policy is on this.

AT&T lets you keep your unlimited data plan when you upgrade, Verizon doesn't. And Verizon is allowing Facetime due the the bandwidth it eats up.

Next month we will se articles of people bitching that Facetime on Verizon made their data plan bills go up and that it should be a free feature.
 
Since Verizon is the most expensive carrier out there, the assholes better NOT charge extra for something that's built into the damn phone!!!!

This seems highly illogical... what you're saying is if I have a cell phone that has a built-in ability to download the entire internet and spam the entire world with pointless E-Mails Verizon shouldn't charge me extra, because it's "...something that's built into the damn phone"?
 
Since Verizon is the most expensive carrier out there, the assholes better NOT charge extra for something that's built into the damn phone!!!!

Exactly. Data is data. Why are they making distinctions on what you're allowed to do on their network when it's ultimately still just sending packets over to the towers and through the internet? Reeks of bullshit.
 
Ding Ding we have a winner. Though I am still surprised, except for the new shared data plans, verizon still charges for tethering, even on metered data plans... Which I happen to think is insane (pick one, unlimited data with extra service charges OR metered data with no extra service charges).

On the recent family / group data plan deals that Verizon now is pushing tethering is included. Basically since majority of the smart phones now have built in wifi spotting capabilities Verizon was smart enough to let you use as much data you want on tablets & laptops that don't have built in cel capabilites.
 
While AT&T is being stupid (whether it's stupidity from stubbornly not adding to their network capacity, or stupidity from trying to further nickle/dime customers), this headline requires a bit of reading between the lines--It's only slightly better than AT&T's decision--you can only use FT if you have a 4G connection--otherwise you're still SOL without wifi if you want to use FT.

I'm guessing, for the sake of data-reduction, you won't be able to dictate what video quality you want to use for FT? I mean, why would I need 720p?
 
AT&T lets you keep your unlimited data plan when you upgrade, Verizon doesn't. And Verizon is allowing Facetime due the the bandwidth it eats up.

Next month we will se articles of people bitching that Facetime on Verizon made their data plan bills go up and that it should be a free feature.

Yeah, these are my thoughts as well.
 
They always benefit consumers. Once the gov gets involved and starts mandating crap (healthcare), we all get the shaft.

Cause we should put a price on your health, am I right? I don't see how a phone and health care relate to each other.

That was not the point. The point is competitive markets always benefit the customer.
That's why the government got involved with the AT&T and T-Mobile merger. It's not very competitive when companies have less competitors.

I personally don't wanna subscribe to AT&T or Verizon. Simply because the biggest cell phone carriers have the most restrictions, and highest prices. So many better options then those companies, and a lot of them are using Verizon's network.
 
They always benefit consumers. Once the gov gets involved and starts mandating crap (healthcare), we all get the shaft.

According to The Verge:

"The 700MHz block of spectrum Verizon uses for its LTE service came with the requirement that the carrier not limit the usability of applications or devices that take advantage of it — a requirement that the FCC feels Verizon has already violated once."

You have the government to thank that Verizon's not charging to use FaceTime...
 
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