Apple Confirms: FaceTime Video Won't Burn Carrier Minutes

The new FaceTime video feature that sparked some 600 thousand iPhone 4 pre-orders o June 15th, will not eat up carrier minutes even if the visual chat is initiated from within a voice call.

The good news comes through an Apple rep who confirmed that Wi-Fi only FaceTime calls will encourage a lot more video chats if users know that carrier minutes aren't being burned up.

"The voice call ends as soon as the FaceTime call connects,"  Apple tells us. "The FaceTime call is over Wi-Fi so it does not use carrier minutes. Source: Business Insider

This amazing iPhone 4 feature is poised to make the device even more popular if the calls prove to maintain a long, reliable connection.

Carrier minutes may not be preserved once Apple chooses to unleash video chatting over AT&T's 3G network. It's uncertain if future FaceTime video over 3G will be billed as voice minutes or charged against data caps.

With AT&T's infamous spotty 3G service, I'm not sure either option deserves serious consideration at present. iPhone 4 launches on Thursday, June 24th starting at 7:00 A.M.

[FaceTime spoof photo by Delrayser]

Comments

[the smart guy]

since its only iphone to iphone then it would fall under AT&T mobile to mobile minutes which you have an unlimited number of so who cares

[David]

Did anyone really think something over wi-fi only would burn ATT minutes?