AT&T Defends Controversial FaceTime Policy Following Widespread Backlash 220
zacharye writes "AT&T is wasting no time hitting back at critics of its decision to limit the use of popular video chat app FaceTime over its cellular network to users who sign up for its shared data plans. In a post on the company's official public policy blog on Wednesday, AT&T chief privacy officer Bob Quinn sneered at criticisms that restricting FaceTime over cellular to shared data plans violates the Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality rules for wireless networks."
It probably won't make a difference, but... (Score:5, Informative)
File a complaint against AT&T here: http://www.fcc.gov/complaints [fcc.gov]
AT&T. Never had 'em, never will (Score:3, Informative)
I have great concern over a carrier thinking they can tell a customer what apps they may or may not use. AT&T needs to be challenged or this is a bad road we are heading down.
Re:Is anyone surprised by this? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Does AT&T's argument hold any water? (Score:5, Informative)
The block is done the same way the tethering block is implemented. There's a setting in the carrier file which controls whether or not FaceTime is allowed over 3G. The processing of said file is built into the iOS and can be downloaded over the air and time the user connects to the carrier network. AT&T sets the FaceTime flag to no or yes based on user's the chosen plan. Other carriers simply set it to yes.
For example, when I went to China with my iPhone and connected to China Mobile the tethering option suddenly became available (since China Mobile doesn't block tethering). When I got back to the U.S. and connected back to AT&T, the tethering option was disabled again (since I'm on the grandfather unlimited plan).
Processing of the carrier file is built into iOS and it doesn't care if your phone is unlocked or not. Unless AT&T sets the FaceTime flag to true for unlocked iPhones, then you still won't be able to do FaceTime over 3G, unless you switch to a Mobile Share plan (which is a rip off if you ask me).
To bypass this block, your iPhone would have to be jailbroken.
Re:Is anyone surprised by this? (Score:4, Informative)
Actaully Apple has nearly 4 times the operating income and 6 times the net income of AT&T. Gross profit is mostly a useless measure.
Re:It probably won't make a difference, but... (Score:3, Informative)
Whoosh.
(The joke was to change cell phone carrier)