| FaceTime | |
|---|---|
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 FaceTime running on an iPhone 13 | |
| Developer | Apple |
| Initial release |
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| Operating system |
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| Platform |
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| Predecessor | iChat |
| Type | Videotelephony,Voice over IP |
| License | Proprietary software |
| Website | |
FaceTime is aproprietaryvideotelephony product developed byApple. FaceTime is available on supportediOS mobile devices runningiOS 4 and later and Mac computers that runMac OS X 10.6.6 and later. FaceTime supports any iOS device with a forward-facing camera and anyMac computer equipped with a FaceTime Camera. FaceTime Audio, an audio-only version, is available on anyiOS device that supportsiOS 7 or newer, and any Mac with a forward-facing camera runningOS X 10.9.2 and later.
FaceTime is included for free in iOS and macOS fromMac OS X Lion (10.7) onwards.[1][2] Since the release of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey, non-Apple systems can be used to participate in FaceTime calls using aweb client.[3]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2025) |
Apple bought the "FaceTime" name from FaceTime Communications, which changed its name toActiance in January 2011.[4][5] On June 7, 2010, Apple CEOSteve Jobs announced FaceTime in conjunction with theiPhone 4 in akeynote speech at the2010 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. Support for the fourth-generationiPod Touch (the first model of iPod Touch equipped with cameras) was announced in conjunction with the device's release on September 8, 2010. On March 2, 2011, FaceTime support was announced for the newly introducediPad 2, which had forward- and rear-facing cameras.
On February 24, 2011, FaceTime left beta and was listed in theMac App Store forUS$0.99. Apple claimed that it had intended to provide the application free of charge but that a provision of theSarbanes–Oxley Act (2002) barred it from providing an unadvertised new feature in an already-sold product without enduring "onerous accounting measures".[6] The US$0.99 beta is no longer available for download from Apple.[7] FaceTime is included for free in macOS fromMac OS X Lion (10.7) onwards and iOS.[1]
AT&T allowed customers to use FaceTime as long as they weretiered but blocked the application from working for customers with unlimited data plans. They were brought before theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) fornet neutrality violations.[8]
In May 2011, it was found that FaceTime would work seamlessly over3G on all iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch models that supported it. Even though FaceTime worked only over 3G at that time, it now[when?] supports4GLTE calls on networks all over the world, and availability is limited to operators' GSM plans.[9]
In 2018, Apple added group video and audio support to FaceTime, which could support up to 32 people iniOS 12 andmacOS Mojave.[10]
The5th generation iPad Pro, introduced in May 2021, featuresCenter Stage, which allows the camera to follow a user when on a FaceTime call,l and was expanded to other third-party video conferencing applications. A feature of all iPads released since 2021, Center Stage is available on Macs using theApple Studio Display or a paired iPhone with anApple A13 or newer chip. Continuity Camera, a feature that allows Macs to use iPhones as a camera, was introduced iniOS 16 andmacOS Ventura.[11][12][13]
On June 7, 2021, during Apple's WWDC Keynote, it was announced that FaceTime would be made available for Android and Windows users via the web.[14] A new feature called SharePlay, announced for FaceTime oniOS 15,iPadOS 15, andmacOS Monterey, enables users on iPhone, iPad, and Mac share music, video, or their screen with people on the call. Apple stated that the feature uses anAPI that can be enabled on any media service and SharePlay was slated to supportApple Music, theApple TV app (includingApple TV+),Disney+,Hulu,HBO Max,Paramount+,TikTok,Twitch, and several other media sources at launch.[15]
FaceTime was added toApple TV 4K (second-generation and newer models) with the release oftvOS 17 in 2023. FaceTime requires a paired iPhone or iPad withiOS 17/iPadOS 17 and supports Center Stage and Split View with an A13 device or newer.[16]
| Parts of this article (those related to FaceTime group calling) need to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(October 2019) |
FaceTime works by establishing a connection between two supported devices. Most Apple devices (including iPhones, iPads, and Macs) introduced after 2011 support FaceTime. FaceTime is currently incompatible with non-Apple devices or any other video calling services. Mac models introduced in 2011 have high-definition video FaceTime, which devices use automatically when both ends have a FaceTime HD camera.
At launch, unlike Mac OS X'siChat, FaceTime did not support group conferencing. The application allowed a one-on-one video chat: only two people could talk at once. If a second user called and the user answered, the video chat with the previous user would end and a new video session began with the second caller. In iPhone, if a phone call was pending and the user attempts to answer, the video call ends and the phone call began with the next user. Support for group video conferencing was added with the release of iOS 12, allowing up to 32 people to participate in a video call simultaneously.
Incoming notifications on iOS devices are shown during a FaceTime call, but if they are opened, the video will be temporarily paused until the user is back in the FaceTime app.
On the iPhone, a user can activate FaceTime during a phone call by pressing the FaceTime button or initiating FaceTime from their call history or the Contacts application. iOS 7 and newer also provide a separate FaceTime app, as there always has been on Apple's non-telephony devices: iPad, iPod Touch, and Mac.
Until the release of iOS 6, FaceTime required aWi-Fi connection to work. From iOS 6 onwards, FaceTime for the iPhone and iPad has supported FaceTime calls over cellular networks (3G, LTE, or5G) provided the carrier enables it, as was the case for nearly all carriers worldwide by mid-2013. FaceTime Audio uses about threemegabytes of data for every five minutes of conversation; FaceTime Video consumes significantly more.[17] Cellular talk time or minutes are not used after switching from a voice call to a FaceTime call.
FaceTime calls can be placed from supported devices to any phone number or email address that is registered to the FaceTime service. A single email address can be registered to multiple devices, and a call placed to that address rings all devices simultaneously.
The FaceTime protocol is based on numerous open industry standards[18] but is not interoperable with non-Apple products.[19] FaceTime's lack of interoperability makes customersdependent on Apple and unable to switch away from Apple products.[19]
Upon the launch of the iPhone 4, Jobs stated that Apple would immediately start working with standards bodies to make the FaceTime protocol an "open industry standard". While the protocols are open standards, Apple's FaceTime service requires a client-side certificate.[20]
FaceTime calls are protected byend-to-end encryption so that only the sender and receiver can access them. Apple cannot decrypt this data.[21][non-primary source needed]
Standards used include:
Compared to mostSIP implementations, FaceTime adds techniques that enhance performance at the cost of breaking interoperability: port multiplexing,SDP minimization, and SDP compression.[22]
| This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2025) |
A new audio-only version of FaceTime, named FaceTime Audio, was announced during the annualApple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote speech on June 10, 2013, and released withiOS 7 on September 18, 2013. It effectively functions as avoice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) application that competes with other mainstream providers in the field, includingSkype (Microsoft).
Based on the sameAAC-LD audio protocol, the service provides high-quality audio. The iOS 7 betas limited FaceTime Audio to calls placed on a Wi-Fi network (the same limitation originally imposed on the video version of FaceTime), but the final release removed that restriction to allow it to work over 3G and LTE data connections. Like the video version, FaceTime Audio is currently[when?] only available between Apple devices on iOS 7 and later. FaceTime streaming over cellular data is unavailable for theiPhone 4 and theiPad 2.[23]
Walkie-Talkie is a limited FaceTime Audio-based communication feature made available on September 17, 2018, forApple Watch devices runningwatchOS 5.0 or later. The application allows users to have two-person calls similar to using a realwalkie-talkie, as conversations arepush-to-talk and only one end of the conversation can speak at a time.[24] Walkie-Talkie is intended for short and quick messages between two people rather than long conversations, which are better suited for traditional phone or video calls. Users can set their availability for walkie-talkie through the control panel or in the app itself, allowing friends to initiate a call at any time.
In July 2019, Apple temporarily disabled the Walkie-Talkie feature from all Apple Watches after a vulnerability was discovered that allowed a user to listen to another person's iPhone without consent.[25]
As of June 2010[update], FaceTime was not enabled on devices bought in theUnited Arab Emirates, possibly due to national regulations restricting IP-based communications. FaceTime was made available for iPhones in theUnited Arab Emirates upon updating to iOS 13.6. In addition, iPhone and iPad (cellular models) devices bought inmainland China have FaceTime Audio, Group FaceTime, and the ability to create and join FaceTime links via the FaceTime app disabled, while FaceTime Video is available.[26][27] Devices bought outside these countries support both video and audio versions of FaceTime.[28] AlthoughEgypt,Jordan,Qatar, andKuwait originally disabled FaceTime on the iPhone 4, they later re-enabled the feature through a carrier update for existing phone owners and made it pre-enabled on any newly purchased iPhone. In March 2018, FaceTime was made available for iPhones inSaudi Arabia upon updating to iOS 11.3, and in August 2019, FaceTime was made available for iPhones inPakistan upon updating to iOS 12.4.
As of April 16, 2014, FaceTime ceased working on earlier versions of iOS that had previously supported it (iOS 4 and later), due to the client-side certificate used to authenticate a genuine Apple device with FaceTime servers (amongst other uses[29]) expiring on that date. Apple chose not to release an update to this certificate for all devices for which a newer major iOS version (with a new, valid certificate) was available. Apple did release a minor update, to the certificate only, for allOS X versions which could run FaceTime, and also for the 4th generation iPod Touch, the only iOS device which could run FaceTime but could not run the then-latest iOS 7. The result of this policy was that almost all iOS users had to update the iOS version on their devices if they wished to continue using FaceTime.[30]
On January 28, 2019, a bug was discovered in the FaceTime app that allowed users toeavesdrop on other users without their knowledge through an exploit.[31] It was later discovered the video feed could be enabled without the other users' acceptance.[32] Apple said in a statement that it would release a fix for the exploit shortly, disabling Group FaceTime for the time being.[33] The bug was named "FacePalm" by security researchers,[34] and affects iOS devices running FaceTime on iOS 12.1 or Mac computers running macOS Mojave 10.14.1. On February 7, Apple fixed the FaceTime vulnerabilities in iOS 12.1.4 and a Supplemental Update for macOS Mojave 10.14.3.[35]
Although the bug gained international attention on January 28, 2019, the bug was found much earlier by Arizona high school student Grant Thompson. He and his mother tried for more than a week to warn Apple about the problem through Facebook and Twitter after discovering the bug on January 20, without receiving answers.[36]
Apple has announced that it will use 'FaceTime' as the trademark for its new video calling application. Our agreement with Apple to transfer the FaceTime trademark to them comes as we are rebranding our company to better reflect our capabilities. This is an Apple app that should come with your Apple product. We will be announcing a new name in the coming months.
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