FaceTime
- IPhone 4 or later,
- IPod touch 4G or later,
- IPad 2 or later. With Apple iOS 4 or later.
FaceTime ( mutatis mutandis to German time for a personal interview / meeting ) is a free VoIP software and the associated communication protocol. FaceTime can be run on any iOS device with a front camera and iOS 4. With it, iPhone 4 (and later), iPad 2 ( and later) and iPod touch support the fourth generation ( and newer). In addition, Macs with a FaceTime camera (formerly iSight camera) and Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later.
History
FaceTime was announced at the launch of the iPhone 4 on June 7, 2010 at the Worldwide Developers Conference by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Support for the iPod touch (4th generation ) and therefore the first iPod touch with camera, on September 8, 2010.
The brand name " FaceTime ", Apple had the U.S. company FaceTime Communications bought these changed its name to Actiance, Inc.
FaceTime for Mac OS X was announced as a beta version on the "Back to the Mac " event on October 20, 2010. On 24 February 2011 FaceTime left the beta stage and has since been listed in the Mac App Store at a price of 0.99 U.S. dollars and 0.89 euros for users of Mac OS X v10.6.6 (or newer). Since Mac OS X v10.7 FaceTime pre-installed.
On 2 March 2011 it was announced that the iPad 2, which is equipped with a front and rear camera, supported by FaceTime.
With iOS 7 and OS X 10.9.2 FaceTime audio has been introduced. This makes it possible to make phone calls without video transmission through the Internet.
Software
On OS X
After the first run FaceTime on a Mac an Apple ID is used to identify which requested or an existing can be entered. It is not necessary that this Apple ID associated with credit card information, but it is only a valid e -mail address is required. This e -mail address is in FaceTime mobile number dar. In the settings it is possible to set up multiple e -mail addresses as a number.
It is possible to use FaceTime with the same Apple ID on various devices, this will ring all parallel. Each of the devices will only respond to the e -mail addresses that are registered in the respective settings. It is therefore possible to think about more e -mail addresses, the devices distinguishable from each other.
Just like a phone requires a unique telephone number even any FaceTime participant receives a unique identification. On the iPhone, this is always the mobile phone number, so registration runs differently here than in the Mac and iPod Touch. It is with iOS 6 in combination with OS X 10.8 is now also possible to enter on the Mac, the iPod touch and the iPad a mobile phone number for FaceTime when it is registered on your own iPhone with FaceTime. A call diversion does not exist.
The software works automatically in the background. After setting up, you are always reachable via FaceTime when an Internet connection is available. The program starts automatically when a call is received. After accepting call also starts a video transmission. Subsequently, the Graphical User Interface provides buttons for full screen display, mute the microphone and end the call.
To make a FaceTime call, the program must be open and a contact from the contact list to be selected. After that FaceTime is by the well-known e- mail address or mobile phone number connects.
On iOS
Since FaceTime on the iPhone since iOS 7 is indeed a standalone app, but it is already built into the phone, messaging and contacts app, there are several ways to start a call:
The behavior of FaceTime, Messages and Contacts app on iPad and iPod touch the same, only the selection options of the phone app omitted.
Interlocutor with an iPhone to iOS 5.x operating system can no calls over a 3G connection (UMTS / HSDPA) make, but there are applications from third-hand that make this a gejailbreakten iPhone. The data rate of 50 KB per second call (3 MB per minute), which is transmitted over a 3G connection, is immense in size and can be used without appropriate mobile phone tariff out of control. From iOS 6 is the possibility to handle FaceTime calls over the mobile network.
Technical Details
The FaceTime communication protocol is mainly based on open standards. It is based on the following technologies:
- H.264 and AAC - Audio and Video Codec,
- SIP - network protocol for setting up, controlling and terminating a communication session,
- STUN, TURN and ICE - network protocols to detect the presence and type of firewalls and NAT routers and penetrate the latter,
- RTP and SRTP - Protocol for continuous ( encrypted ) transmission of audiovisual data ( streams) over IP - based networks.
After the launch of the iPhone 4 Steve Jobs promised that Apple makes the FaceTime protocol an " open standard ". To date, nothing is known about the state of things; Apple has released no technical specifications for the service. FaceTime can currently only operate exclusively on Apple's own devices.
Limited availability
Since October 2010, FaceTime is not on devices which have been purchased in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, available. Possibly as a result of legislation in these countries, which limit the use of IP-based communication technologies. Outside bought devices continue to support FaceTime.
Although in Egypt for now the iPhone 4 has been sold with a disabled FaceTime, Vodafone Egypt decided to allow VoIP telephony but through an update of the carrier settings.
Criticism
When you activate the FaceTime function on an iPhone, the device sends in the background an SMS to the number 0044 7786205094 in the UK. According to Apple, this SMS is sent only once and the users are notified of the possibility fees. On the Internet, however, find numerous reports from users that they have not received the notes and that this SMS is even attacked several times. This was the case, as stated by Apple, but even without changes to the iPhone not only after each ( re) activation of the iPhone - some users did not even know the FaceTime feature. Some network operators that offer the iPhone with a mobile phone contract, reimburse the cost of this text message - but others cost of international SMS incurred that are not intercepted by the so-called " cost - airbags ".