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Using video calling. What is FaceTime

FaceTime is an Apple program that appeared, no less, seven years ago. In the summer of 2010, Steve Jobs introduced it, and in the fall it was “tailored” for iOS. By the way, at the very beginning FaceTime was developed for the iPhone 4, and only in 2011 it was installed on Mac OS.

In 2010-2011, the program could only be used where there were Wi-Fi points. This limitation of capabilities was established for a completely objective reason - low connection throughput via cellular communications and the high price of data transfer. Fortunately, today you can use FaceTime anywhere, because 3G and 4G networks have appeared. Therefore, already in iOS 6, the developers provided the ability to enable it in the presence of any type of Internet.

How does it work

Initially, it was possible to communicate via FaceTime only through video calls. A front camera was used to allow interlocutors to look at each other. By the way, it was the use of the front camera for communication that became the highlight. Over time, the developers realized that some users find it more convenient to talk without a picture and added audio calls. Today, nine people can talk simultaneously in audio format, and four people in video format. This is very convenient in cases where you need to quickly hold an online conference.

It is worth noting that people can call each other via FaceTime only if both are happy owners of gadgets from Apple: iPhone, Mac, iPad. By the way, device configuration also matters. So the iPod touch must be at least the fourth generation, the iPad at least the second, and also the iPad mini. Using a Mac, the program runs on Mac OS X v10.6.6 and higher.

Using FaceTime

The program is convenient because it does not need to be specially installed, since it is built into the system. Another plus is that FaceTime always remains active, meaning the user does not have to worry about missing a call. As soon as an incoming call arrives, buttons for picking up the handset and performing other actions appear on the display.

Registration

To activate the application, you must register. This is done through the “Settings” menu of the phone. First you need to find the corresponding icon and click on it, after which a registration window appears with two buttons “Login” and “Create a new account”. Accordingly, if a person has already used the application, then he chooses the first one, if not, he chooses the second one.

During registration, you enter your email and Apple device ID. The system checks the data for a few seconds, and then the profile is secured.

Step-by-step instructions are provided in the video below, and the registration process is discussed from 2 minutes.

How to call

The call is made not only to the mobile number, but also to the email address.

To complete a set, choose one of three methods:

  • Go to the contact list, click on the name, find the required section in the additional information (FaceTime) and select an audio or video call there. It's difficult to make a mistake, since each option is indicated by a corresponding icon.

  • Go to messages from the person you want to call and, as in the first case, select one of the two buttons next to the name of the interlocutor.
  • Go to FaceTime right during a conversation. To do this, click on the appropriate button on the screen and wait until the interlocutor confirms the automatic transition to the conversation in the program.

It is important to know that audio calls cannot be made from all devices. So the iPod and iPad do not support this function at all, and other gadgets must have an operating system no lower than iOS 7. Perhaps this is the only drawback of the application. Although, some users still don’t like the fact that you can’t turn off the camera during a call.

In all other respects, FaceTime is a really convenient application that can be used even where there is no telephone connection, as long as there is an Internet access point.

The Internet gives people unprecedented opportunities. Today, more than ever, we can turn to the Internet for any information and instantly receive it: in the hands of humanity, the world's largest collection of music, films and books. We are always up to date with the latest developments and store documents in the form of computer files. But, most importantly, the Internet erases boundaries and distances between people, allowing you to communicate online, regardless of location, which is why instant messengers and VoIP call services, such as Skype or Face Time, are so popular on the Internet.

"Face Time": what is it?

“Face Time” is a technology that allows you to establish video or audio communication between electronic devices that support it (meaning Apple gadgets).

The technology was first demonstrated during the presentation of the fourth generation iPhone. Right on stage, he showed how video chat works using the front and main cameras of the phone. At the same time, Steve said about Face Time that it was the highest quality and safest way to contact family and friends. Subsequently, this technology migrated to other company devices, including iPads of the second generation and older, Mac computers with a FaceTime camera installed, and players

The peculiarity of this service is unprecedented audio.

Initially, this service only allowed calls using Wi-Fi, which was extremely negatively received by the public, given the fact that 3G coverage was developed at the time of launch. Later, in 2012, at the presentation of the fifth generation iPhone, Apple announced that Face Time would work via the mobile Internet.

Another important moment in the development of technology was the appearance of audio calls, presented in 2013 along with iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks.

How to set up Face Time?

You must have an iCloud account to use this service. To create it, you just need to register an Apple ID, which all users without exception do to activate the device. You can create an account in iTunes or when you turn on the gadget for the first time.

Creating an account is enough to enable FaceTime in the future. On iOS, the setup process includes one more step. How to set up Face Time on iPhone? This service must be activated on your phone. To do this, go to “Settings” > FaceTime and turn on the enable toggle switch.

To establish a connection with a specific subscriber, you need to know his phone number (if one is attached) or Apple ID. “Face Time” also pulls up data from your address book: those users who are already using “Face Time” will appear in the corresponding application and will be available for calls.

Possibilities

At the moment, the service allows you to establish a connection between two devices using Wi-Fi, as well as 3G and LTE networks.

Face Time uses H264 and AAC (Apple Audio Codec) standards to ensure better communication quality, as well as RTP and SRTP methods to ensure maximum security for users.

The service operates free of charge, and clients only pay for Internet traffic.

Restrictions

Unfortunately, as is often the case with Apple, this technology has a number of limitations. These include:

  • A maximum of two devices can participate in a conversation.
  • Long connection times (planned to be fixed in 2016).
  • Can't switch from video to audio call.
  • Ban on use in a number of countries (Russia is not one of them).

Because of these shortcomings, one can often hear criticism of Face Time that it is just a pathetic copy of Skype. However, many users do not take into account the high quality of communication and full encryption, which is not available in most other services.

Instead of a conclusion

Now the reader has become aware of another useful and convenient service from Apple. After reading this material, there should be no questions left regarding Face Time: what it is, how to set up the service and how to use it. This means it’s time to move from theory to practice and call someone close to you right now, because it’s completely free.

The program is a standard utility for all more or less modern Apple devices. Face Time allows you to exchange video calls with other users, provided that they have a similar utility installed.

The application is positioned primarily as a mobile application for iPhone and iPad tablets/smartphones, as well as iPod Toush players. However, FaceTime is also available for iMac and MacBook desktop users. At the same time, owners of such PCs can make video calls in HD quality.

Possibilities

  • The ability to use two cameras: the front one shows the face of the interlocutor, and the back one shows everything that happens in the foreground of the camera.
  • Address book integration.
  • Supports 16:9 widescreen images in HD quality.
  • Make free video and audio calls. Only Internet traffic is paid for.

Advantages

  1. There is no need to register: your Apple ID serves as your account. The user just needs to click on the program icon to get into the contact list.
  2. The application informs you about missed calls.
  3. There is no need to install the application first, because... it is a standard utility in iOS and OS X.
  4. FaceTime integrates with third-party softphones.

Flaws

  • The utility only works on devices running iOS/OS X operating systems. You cannot download Facetime for Windows
  • Recorded video calls can only be viewed by Mac desktop owners.

In addition to the video calling function, the service has an SMS pager and a voice call option. However, in the last two components, FaceTime is somewhat inferior to similar Internet phones. Therefore, if the user is not a fan of Apple gadgets and likes truly full-featured softphones, then it is better to opt for another application.

Download Facetime on a Mac OS computer in Russian

To download the FaceTime app from the Mac App Store, you need a Mac running Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later

By the way

The era of text messengers has irrevocably sunk into oblivion. No matter how original emoticons and stickers are, they will never replace face-to-face communication. Therefore, applications designed to transmit images are becoming increasingly popular. One of the most current video phones is Facetime. With its help, the user can not only see the face of the interlocutor, but also contemplate the environment around him in panoramic mode!

Hello, dear readers! I think quite a large number of you use video calls in your daily life. And I am sure that the overwhelming number of calls are made using the well-known Skype service. But today I will tell you about a slightly different service with almost the same functionality, but this service was made by all of us, our beloved company Apple. I'm talking about FaceTime. Let's talk about him!

As you all know, Apple positions this service as the only possible service for video calls. And they were right in some ways until a certain time, because Skype for mobile platforms was released relatively recently and now FaceTime needs to prove itself more interesting than its competitor. And they succeed, but for some reason the service is very popular in the West and most of Europe, but not here. The service is very interesting, but contains some shortcomings.

So, as I mentioned above, FaceTime is essentially Apple's Skype. But it’s just very simplified. How to use it? After all, on the main screen of your device you will not find a separate program called FaceTime - it is, so to speak, “hidden” in the system and finding it, at first glance, is not so easy, but only at first.

How to enable FaceTime

In order to use the service, you need to do the following:

After this, FaceTime needs to be activated via the Internet, and also, quite possibly, sent an SMS (I will mention this at the end). Activation will take place after you click on the “Use this Apple ID with FaceTime” button.

How to use FaceTime

In order to make a call using FaceTime, simply turn on the mobile Internet (or connect to WiFi), then call the subscriber and click on the FaceTime icon in the conversation settings. After pressing it, the person you are calling will be asked to switch to video call mode; if he agrees, you will start a video conversation; if he refuses, the conversation will simply disconnect.

You can also call a subscriber by going into your correspondence with him in messages or viewing the subscriber’s contact information.

That's all the wisdom!

Also, finally, I would like to talk about one “pitfall” that awaits users when activating facetime. This thing is connected with the fact that the FaceTime service sends SMS, and even to the UK. Confirmation of this has recently appeared online. The network also recommends going into the settings and disabling the possibility of spontaneous program actions. But in essence this is not entirely true - no such settings exist.

Yes, the program sends SMS, but only to activate this same FaceTime and will not send anything else. The price of SMS varies and depends, oddly enough, on the iPhone model. Each model has a dedicated number to which the service sends SMS to activate the service and send general usage statistics that Apple collects. So be prepared for this.

Activating FaceTime and how to change your phone number in FaceTime

If you activated your iPhone with someone else's SIM card and then installed your own. It is very likely that the same phone will remain in the FaceTime service. You can correct the situation by resetting all phone settings “Settings” - “General” - “Reset” - “Reset all settings”. Then go to the "FaceTime" settings and turn it on again. FaceTime will ask for a new activation, click OK. After activation, your valid phone number should appear.

No Face Time - how to install

If you cannot find the Face Time program on your device:

  1. Face Time may not appear on iPhones and iPads purchased or used in the UAE, Pakistan, or Saudi Arabia. With iOS 11.3 and later, FaceTime is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch in Saudi Arabia.
  2. If you are sure that the phone was not purchased in Asia, then go to "Settings" -> "Screen Time" -> "Content and Privacy Restrictions" -> "Allowed Programs" and make sure that the FaceTime and "Camera" options are are turned on. If Screen Time is turned on for your camera, you won't be able to use FaceTime.
  3. An even easier way is to search for FaceTime in Spotlight or using Siri. If FaceTime was removed from the Home screen, you will need to restore it.
  4. If the above methods do not help, update iOS to the latest version.

FaceTime is a great way to stay connected for free. Therefore, if problems arise with the service, many users immediately begin to look for an answer to the question of why Face Time does not work on iPhone.

Turn on Face Time

To use FaceTime, you must turn it on and activate it. For this:

To use FaceTime to make a call, open the Phone app and look for the icons in your contact's details.

You can call from the standard FaceTime application: you just need to enter the name and number manually or select from your contacts list.

FaceTime doesn't work

If, after turning on FaceTime, you cannot make a call through it, then first of all make sure that you have a stable Internet connection via Wi-Fi. Other software reasons for service failures include:

  • Disable FaceTime in Settings.
  • Error in network settings.
  • Problems with Internet access.
  • Using an old version of iOS.

Check that FaceTime is enabled and activated in iOS settings. If the system has not been updated for a long time, you should install the available updates. If you experience problems on the latest supported version of iOS, reset your network settings:

  1. Open settings.
  2. Go to the "Basic" section.
  3. Click on "Reset".
  4. Select Reset Network Settings.

If the cause of the failure was connection errors, then resetting will help eliminate them. However, in addition to software reasons, there may also be hardware problems that can only be fixed at a service center:

  • Malfunctions of the built-in modem.
  • Damage to contacts.
  • Failure of communication modules.

Technical problems can also arise on the side of the device responsible for Internet access - the router that distributes Wi-Fi. Perhaps there is a restriction on Internet access in its settings, which prevents you from connecting to the FaceTime server.

Can't make or receive a call

Problems using FaceTime may occur for the following reasons:

  • The service and audio call are not available in your country or are not supported by your carrier.
  • The service does not support call forwarding.
  • You are trying to switch from FaceTime to an audio or regular call.

Sometimes, to work normally with Face Time, you have to change your SIM card and even your operator. Check with your provider to see if they support the service.

Waiting for activation

If none of the reasons listed above describe your situation, try the following:


Follow these steps sequentially to successfully complete the process of activating the service on your device.

There is no FaceTime on iPhone

We figured out why Face Time doesn’t work on iPhone, but what should users do if they can’t find such an application on their smartphone at all? The service may be unavailable for three reasons:

  • The application has been removed.
  • There are restrictions on its operation in the settings.
  • The iPhone was purchased in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or the UAE, where the service does not work.

If the third option is definitely not your case, then check the list of restrictions. Go to the settings and in the “General” section, click on the “Restrictions” item. Make sure there is no restriction on the program.

If the application has been deleted, you can restore it by downloading it again from the App Store. Once installed, the iOS main menu will provide all the necessary options to enable and activate FaceTime, so all you have to do is set it up.