Verizon rumored wanting to limit FaceTime 3G to capped plans

OneMoreThing... · Jul 29, 2011

Verizon rumored wanting to limit FaceTime 3G to capped plans

Verizon may be obstructing the adoption of FaceTime on 3G based on attempts to force more users into its capped data plans. Although the FaceTime experience on 3G is said to be working well, Apple and the carrier are...

schweb · Jul 29, 2011

I thought Verizon's network was so super awesome and could handle all this traffic? Why would they need to limit it?

Nethfel · Jul 29, 2011

It's really just VZW wanting more money. They obviously see facetime as potentially using a lot of data (which even in the article it states that there are other apps that use more) and if they can get people with a capped plan on it, then they will run out faster and have to pay more per month then those of us who are on unlimited plans.

I'm kind of surprised with the way technology and bandwidth moves that VZW and ATT have both moved to limited data plans - a rather depressing step backwards into the days of metered dialup service.

danible · Jul 31, 2011

That is why I am switching to Sprint when my contract with Verizon runs out. Greedy fools.

cwa107 · Jul 31, 2011

schweb said:
I thought Verizon's network was so super awesome and could handle all this traffic? Why would they need to limit it?

Does AT&T allow FaceTime over 3G? I could have sworn it was limited to WiFi at their insistence.

Doug b · Jul 31, 2011

danible said:
That is why I am switching to Sprint when my contract with Verizon runs out. Greedy fools.

You'd better hope that your contract runs out before Sprint gets the iPhone then. Because if you think that Sprint won't pull the same pricing schemes as the other 2 companies, you're likely in for a surprise. And even IF you get in before they do, it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't honor the grandfather system for customers not with them for a certain amount of time.

Doug

schweb · Aug 1, 2011

cwa107 said:
Does AT&T allow FaceTime over 3G? I could have sworn it was limited to WiFi at their insistence.

Don't know I never tried it.

But considering Verizon's selling point was their "rock solid" network that was built to more than handle the iPhone, it's really interesting to see Verizon take this path.

I really don't think Verizon or AT&T are ultimately that different.

baggss · Aug 2, 2011

schweb said:
Don't know I never tried it.

But considering Verizon's selling point was their "rock solid" network that was built to more than handle the iPhone, it's really interesting to see Verizon take this path.

I really don't think Verizon or AT&T are ultimately that different.

AT&T never allowed FaceTime over 3G, they knew it would be an issue.

As schweb said though, this seemed to be one of their big selling pints, along with unlimited data. So much for competition in this case. Looks like Big Red is following Big Blue...

WmTasker · Aug 3, 2011

I am on Verizon with my iPhone and you can only FaceTime while on wifi.

cwa107 · Aug 3, 2011

baggss said:
AT&T never allowed FaceTime over 3G, they knew it would be an issue.

As schweb said though, this seemed to be one of their big selling pints, along with unlimited data. So much for competition in this case. Looks like Big Red is following Big Blue...

Well, except that their service doesn't suck (at least here)