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As a hacker, I'm much more excited by FaceTime as (finally!) a standard for video calling than on iPhones specifically. But, FaceTime could also work for the g
by Sidnicious 16y ago
As a hacker, I'm much more excited by FaceTime as (finally!) a standard for video calling than on iPhones specifically.
But, FaceTime could also work for the general public because up until now, video calling took effort and planning.
Even with Skype, both parties have to sign up for accounts, exchange screen names, make sure they have computers with a camera, speakers, and microphone. If you're really lucky, the computer will be a laptop. And both users have to be at their computers and signed into Skype to make the call, which means that in a lot of cases a video call ends up being coordinated over the phone beforehand.
FaceTime just requires that you know each other's phone numbers, (when the spec is released, I'm sure big, bright "FaceTime Compatible!" stickers will show up on lots of phones) and, for now, be on WiFi. "Upgrading" from a phone call to a video call is as simple as pressing a button. The "cost" to make a call is so much lower.
- ChRoss 16y agoI think to be fair, in order to use FaceTime: both parties have to sign up to certain provider, buy iPhone4 (we're talking as per current. What will happen in future, who knows?) By the way, as I don't have iPhone4, I curious about this scenario, what will happen if I'm on FaceTime chat with someone, and another people call my number? Will the call go through and the FaceTime chat dropped?