It was recently discovered that AT&T will likely charge for FaceTime over 3G when iOS 6 launches for the public this fall. Users could previously only use Apple’s FaceTime when connected to a WiFi network, but iOS 6 (now in its third developer beta) will allow for FaceTime over both WiFi and a cellular connection.
Sprint, the nation’s third largest carrier, now says that it will not charge its customers for FaceTime over 3G in iOS 6. Both AT&T and Verizon still refuse to give any details.
A Sprint representative told The Wall Street Journal that the carrier is “committed to our unlimited data and that means not charging for data consumption based on the application.” Sprint is the only U.S. carrier left that offers an unlimited data plan to new and existing customers, and the carrier has promised to keep offering unlimited data when the next iPhone debuts later this year.
The nation’s two largest carriers, AT&T and Verizon, are being more cagey about FaceTime over 3G. AT&T’s CEO gave a generic “something’s going but I can’t say anything” PR statement to stem the tide. Verizon only said that “The timing of any pricing conversations related to future versions of iOS is premature.”
It’s worth noting that the same carrier message for AT&T devices attempting to use FaceTime over 3G on iOS 6 is not present on Verizon devices. However, Verizon’s canned statement does make it sound like something is going on behind closed doors with Apple.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
