Over the past few days, we have been hearing rumors that suggest that the next generation of iPod Touch and iPad could come with a front facing camera that would enable FaceTime to work on these devices.
Now folks at Boy Genius Report have unearthed more information on how this could actually work out.
As you may be aware, Apple's FaceTime video-calling feature references every user by their phone number. This is tricky since users of iPod Touch and iPad do not have a phone number referenced to their device. BGR sources have revealed that Apple may alternatively make use of the users' Apple ID to reference the devices. Consequently, a FaceTime conversation with these users may be initiated by "calling" their email address. Here are screen-grabs of the FaceTime account registration and settings page on the next generation iPod Touch.
Users on these Apple devices will be asked to sign up with FaceTime using the email address that is associated with their Apple ID. Once the user verifies his/her email account, they are ready to go. As you can see from the screenshots, it is also possible that Apple would let users add multiple email IDs to their FaceTime account so that they may be contacted by work colleagues, friends and family with the relevant email addresses. BGR points out that users on these devices may receive FaceTime video-call requests via push notifications.
There are a few unanswered questions though. It is not clear if Apple will also integrate FaceTime on iPhone 4 with the user's Apple ID. This appears inevitable since iPhone users who also own an iPad or iPod Touch would otherwise end up with multiple FaceTime accounts. We are also not sure of how FaceTime would integrate with non-Apple devices in future. You may be aware that Apple is working on creating an open standard for FaceTime that will allow non-Apple device owners to communicate using FaceTime.
If these speculations turn out to be accurate then the future looks very promising for FaceTime. What has been your experience with FaceTime so far? Please share your views in the comments below.
[via BGR]
I assumed FaceTime would be on these iDevices because of the option to separate contact favorites as Voice (iPhones) or FaceTime (iPod Touch)
Seems like the next logical step for Apple.
Seems like the next logical step for Apple.
My wife and I have used Face time, generally very good, a few dropped calls, yet easily reconnected and video quality better than skype on our large Imac. Easy to use, cant wait for ATT to improve network sowe can do over 3G.
cant wait for my white iphone 4 so i can use facetime, will be nice that it comes to iPads and iPod touch that way i can talk to my friends using facetime on their new iPods
Ha ha ha ha ha..
lol AT&T cant even handle EDGE calls you want them to handle facetime? not happening any time soon
For real!! Look how long it took them to implement mms!!
Facetime is absolutely *ridiculous* if the iphonium4 can't do regular 3g video-calling with other brand video-call capable 3g phones.
When the iPhone 4 gets jailbroken be sure to expect a few facetime calls over 3g using 3g unrestrictor.
the iphone 4 ant geting jb!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The iPad does have a phone number but it's only on the 3G model. Go to settings-General- about then go do to cellular data number and I bet that it will start off with a 1 then your area code of where you are located or bought the iPad. So I can understand using the wifi only model with the email address. But I'm sure AT&T will mess this one up some how but I'll stay positive. So tell me what you all think if this couldnwork or if I'm wrong.
Will facetime work with ichat on a Mac?