FaceTime

FaceTime

File:FaceTime logo.png FaceTime logo on Mac OS X
Developer(s)	Apple Inc.
Stable release	1.0.2 (Mac OS X) / 22 March 2011 (2011-03-22)
Operating system	Mac OS X, iOS 4
Platform	Mac, iPhone 4, and iPod Touch 4th gen and iPad 2nd Generation.
Type	Video calling
License	Proprietary
Website	FaceTime for Mac FaceTime for iPhone FaceTime for iPod Touch FaceTime for iPad

This article is about the Apple product. For the social interaction, see face time.

FaceTime is a video calling software application and related protocol developed by Apple for supported mobile devices running the iOS, in addition to Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.6.6 and higher. FaceTime is supported on any iOS device with a forward-facing camera (namely, all iOS devices released since the release of the iPhone 4) and on any Macintosh computer equipped with a webcam, in particular those equipped with a FaceTime camera (formerly known as an iSight camera.)

History

File:FaceTime Logo on iOS 4.3.png

FaceTime logo on supported iOS 4.3 devices.

FaceTime was announced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at his keynote speech on June 7, 2010 at the WWDC 2010 in conjunction with the iPhone 4. Support for the fourth-generation iPod Touch, the first iPod Touch to be equipped with cameras, was announced in conjunction with this device's release on September 8, 2010.

The "FaceTime" name was purchased by Apple from FaceTime Communications, who changed their company name.

FaceTime for Mac OS X was announced on October 20, 2010 at the "Back to the Mac" Media event on the Apple Campus.

On February 24, 2011 FaceTime left beta and was listed in the Mac App Store for $0.99 (£0.59). Apple had intended to provide the application for free, however, the Sarbanes–Oxley Act, put forth in July 30, 2002, prohibits companies, such as Apple, from providing an unadvertised new feature of an already sold product without enduring 'onerous accounting measures'. On March 2, 2011, FaceTime support was announced for the newly-introduced iPad 2, which gained forward- and rear-facing cameras for this purpose.

Implementation

File:IPhone call screen.png

The iPhone's screen when a call is in progress, showing the FaceTime button (middle of bottom row).

FaceTime works by connecting an iPhone 4, fourth Generation iPod touch, a second generation iPad, or a computer with Mac OS X to another similar device; the previous generations of iPhone and iPod Touch are not currently supported, however on the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, users can enter facetime:// urls in Safari to trigger what appears to be a FaceTime call, although it does not truly ever successfully initiate. FaceTime is not compatible with non-Apple devices or any other video calling services.

On the iPhone, FaceTime works in the Phone application instead of being a separate application. It can be activated when in the Phone application by placing a call, and pressing the FaceTime button. The FaceTime button replaced the Hold button (which is now available by pressing and holding the Mute button). The icon resembles a camcorder. It is also possible to initiate a FaceTime call directly from a contact file.

While the current FaceTime implementation for the iPhone does not officially support FaceTime calls over 3G (UMTS/HSPA), there are 3rd party applications that enable this capability

FaceTime over 3G can be achieved by using third party jailbreaking commercial software such as the FaceBreak, 3G Unrestrictor or My3G which fools the phone into believing that it is connected via Wi-Fi. These programs are only available on jailbroken iPhones via the Cydia Store. At the moment there are no known free of cost solutions to unrestrict FaceTime. FaceTime uses about three megabytes of data per minute of conversation, so users with a limited data plan who use FaceTime over 3G (only on jailbroken devices as of right now) must be careful to not overextend their data limit. However, cellular talk time/minutes aren't used after switching from a voice call to a FaceTime call.

FaceTime on iPad original is also possible by porting the FaceTime application for the iPod touch 4th gen to iPad.

iOS 4.1 and FaceTime for Mac, iPhone 4, and iPod Touch (4th Generation) supports the use of an Apple ID email address to initiate a FaceTime call. The two parties would need two different Apple IDs to initiate a FaceTime call, although multiple IDs can reside under a single iTunes account.

Standards

The FaceTime protocol is based on numerous open industry standards.

FaceTime is based on numerous technologies:

• H.264 and AAC – video and audio codecs respectively
• SIP – IETF signaling protocol for VoIP
• STUN, TURN and ICE – IETF technologies for traversing firewalls and NAT
• RTP and SRTP – IETF standards for delivering real-time and encrypted media streams for VoIP

Upon the launch of the iPhone 4, Jobs promised that Apple would work in due course with standards bodies to make the FaceTime protocol an "open standard." As of April 2011, it is not yet known to have been ratified by any standards body, and the extent of work by Apple with regards to this promise is unclear. FaceTime is not currently supported on any non-Apple devices.

While FaceTime is based on open standards, Apple's FaceTime service requires a client-side certificate. I.e. while the protocol might be open, access to Apple's FaceTime service is controlled by Apple.

Limited availability

As of October 2010, FaceTime is not enabled on devices bought in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt or Jordan, possibly due to regulations in these countries which restrict the use of IP-based communications technology. Devices bought elsewhere continue to support FaceTime even in these countries.