FaceTime audio is AWESOME!

[JackBurton]

Just tested FaceTime audio with an iMac and it is awesome. Seamless integration and super intuitive to use. Telcos have got to be hating this. Apple has already eaten into their SMS bullsh!t plans with iMessage, now it's time to start eating into their traditional voice plans. My brother has unlimited data but has limited voice minutes. Guess he's not going to need to have to pay for additional minutes.

 

[TheStu]

Assuming he has good coverage, or is in wifi a lot, then yea.

I really like FaceTime Audio, when I game online with friends, we'll use that to talk to each other instead of Skype. Skype always has this weird background noise and will disconnect sometimes. With FaceTime the noise floor is so low that the first time we connected, we both thought that the call had dropped because there was no noise in the background.

The drawback is that last I checked, you couldn't connect to multiple people at once. So if a bunch of us want to talk, we have to use Skype.

 

[Kaido]

I actually didn't discover Facetime Audio until a couple days ago when I accidentally clicked it...I thought it was only video chat haha. Although I still mostly use Skype because Facetime, while better-performing, has a lot of connection issues (half the time it won't connect, either on 3G or Wifi). And like TheStu said, you can video conference with multiple people on Skype, which is hand with family.

I'm curious if Apple is ever going to come out with an AppleTV camera. I use stuff like Cisco & LifeSize video conference systems at work, which are basically Bluray-quality camera systems and are absolutely incredible in terms of picture quality, but they also cost an arm & a leg.

Also, I've had my share of issues with iMessage. It works well for the most part, but there's always problems when people switch to an Android phone for an upgrade and their iMessage account is still receiving their texts. I believe you have to disconnect the phone in your AppleID device list on Apple's site in order to stop receiving SMS to iMessage. This has been a huge pain for me when texting coworkers & friends who jump ship to different phones & don't receive my messages

 

[MotionMan]

Also, I've had my share of issues with iMessage. It works well for the most part, but there's always problems when people switch to an Android phone for an upgrade and their iMessage account is still receiving their texts. I believe you have to disconnect the phone in your AppleID device list on Apple's site in order to stop receiving SMS to iMessage. This has been a huge pain for me when texting coworkers & friends who jump ship to different phones & don't receive my messages

That's not an issue with iMessage. That is an issue with your friends who leave iOS for Android.



MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Just tested FaceTime audio with an iMac and it is awesome. Seamless integration and super intuitive to use. Telcos have got to be hating this. Apple has already eaten into their SMS bullsh!t plans with iMessage, now it's time to start eating into their traditional voice plans. My brother has unlimited data but has limited voice minutes. Guess he's not going to need to have to pay for additional minutes.

I have unlimited minutes, but limited data. I am not sure I am a candidate to use FaceTime Audio.

Why would someone like me choose it over a phone call?

MotionMan

 

[JAG87]

I have unlimited minutes, but limited data. I am not sure I am a candidate to use FaceTime Audio.

Why would someone like me choose it over a phone call?

MotionMan

Because facetime audio uses an abysmal amount of data, around 500kb/min, which means a small 1GB data plan will give you last you about 2000 minutes of world-wide talk time, without even counting time spent on wi-fi. Oh and it sounds 100x better than a gsm call.

 

[JackBurton]

Because facetime audio uses an abysmal amount of data, around 500kb/min, which means a small 1GB data plan will give you last you about 2000 minutes of world-wide talk time, without even counting time spent on wi-fi. Oh and it sounds 100x better than a gsm call.

Good points. Another great reason to use Facetime audio over standard voice calls is when you are in a location with crappy coverage but you have access to a wifi connection. My brother for instance has crappy Verizon coverage in his area and instead of installing a micro-tower, he can now use his wifi. Super easy with better call quality.

 

[captainslow]

It's a lot harder to use when others aren't integrated. And living where there is wifi available really helps, but for me (out more in the country), wifi is rarely an option

 

[JackBurton]

It's a lot harder to use when others aren't integrated. And living where there is wifi available really helps, but for me (out more in the country), wifi is rarely an option

Don't associated with those types.

 

[Printer Bandit]

 

[ViRGE]

So how's the audio quality on iOS devices? Significantly better that cellular voice calls?

 

[BlueWeasel]

So how's the audio quality on iOS devices? Significantly better that cellular voice calls?

I've only used it for a few calls (after seeing this thread) but the audio quality is much better. Can't say I notice any latency either.

 

[captainslow]

Don't associated with those types.

Easier said than done

 

[deanx0r]

Are they still going to open Facetime to other platforms?

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Are they still going to open Facetime to other platforms?

That's mostly been stopped due to the lawsuit issues they've been having.

 

[sxr7171]

So how's the audio quality on iOS devices? Significantly better that cellular voice calls?

Far better. Cellular voice is terrible unless you are both on "HD"voice.