Jim Cicconi, AT&T Wireless’ Senior Executive Vice President-External and Legislative Affairs, has posted the following via AT&T’s Public Policy Blog:
As most observers are aware, Apple’s FaceTime application is currently enabled on AT&T’s popular Mobile Share plan as well as on Wi-Fi, though not at this time on our other billing plans. This approach has raised questions and some concerns. We decided to take this cautious approach for important reasons. AT&T has by far more iPhones on our network than any other carrier. We’re proud of this fact and the confidence our customers have in us. But it also means that when Apple rolls out new services or changes, as it did in iOS 6, it can have a much greater, and more immediate, impact on AT&T’s network than is the case with carriers who have far fewer iPhone users.
In this instance, with the FaceTime app already preloaded on tens of millions of AT&T customers’ iPhones, there was no way for our engineers to effectively model usage, and thus to assess network impact. It is for this reason that we took a more cautious approach toward the app. To do otherwise might have risked an adverse impact on the services our customers expect – voice quality in particular – if usage of FaceTime exceeded expectations. And this is important for all our customers regardless of which smartphone they may use.
In the meantime, we are announcing today that we will support FaceTime, not only on our Mobile Share plans, but also on all of our tiered data plans with an LTE device. We expect to roll out this functionality over the next 8-10 weeks. In addition, we are informing our deaf and hard of hearing customers that, as of October 26, we began rolling out several new billing plans designed to allow them to make use of FaceTime. This is part of our ongoing commitment to our customers with disabilities, and it’s a commitment which is very important to us.
We will continue to gather and assess the network data on this issue over the next few months and anticipate that we will be able to expand the availability of FaceTime to our customers on other billing plans in the near future.
Related articles:
AT&T to be hit with ‘Net Neutrality’ complaint over FaceTime blocking – September 18, 2012
Verizon: No extra charge for iPhone’s FaceTime over Cellular on any data plan – September 13, 2012
AT&T Mobility blasts ‘knee-jerk reaction’ to FaceTime Over Cellular plans – August 22, 2012
‘Net neutrality’ watchdogs howl over AT&T’s FaceTime over Cellular policy – August 22, 2012
FaceTime over cellular from AT&T available at no additional cost, but only to Mobile Share subscribers – August 20, 2012
Sprint won’t charge extra for FaceTime over cellular – July 18, 2012
Finally
8-10 weeks ?? Whats stopping them from allowing it now if they have decided to allow it AS OF TODAY ??
Awesome and it’s about time, better late then never I suppose. ;p
So by “tiered plan” it sounds like “unlimited” plans are not included (yet).
… but it’s not a “limit” …
So if Bill has an iPhone 4S and Ted has an iPhone 5, they still can’t use FaceTime because both devices aren’t on LTE?
If Bill (4S) is on WiFi and Ted (5) is on HSPDA+, LTE or WiFi = supported.
If Bill (4S) is on HSPDA+ and Ted (5) is on LTE or WiFi = *NOT* supported.
I wonder if the original “unlimited” plan is considered a “tiered data plan”…
That’s great, but my iPhone 4s & HSPA+ are more than capable of FaceTime. Hopefully, this is just ATT being cautious and they will expand the reach again in a few months.
“To do otherwise might have risked an adverse impact on the services our customers expect – voice quality in particular”
Newsflash ATT, voice quality and dropped calls sucked way before FaceTime. And still does.
I actually like the audio quality on FaceTime a lot better than the regular phone method. its streaming a much higher quality i feel.
No, it will still not work for those with unlimited plans. Dang it!!!!!!
Tiered data plans… So still not on my unlimited plan. 😏
I guess AT&T is still trying to discourage its remaining unlimited plan holders into switching carriers.
I’d say they were trying to Encourage remaining unlomited plan holders into switching carriers…