Enabling FaceTime Over Our
Mobile Broadband Network

Posted by: Bob Quinn on August 22, 2012 at 8:56 am

Last week, we confirmed plans to make FaceTime available over our mobile broadband network for our AT&T Mobile Share data plan customers. 

FaceTime is a video chat application that has been pre-loaded onto every AT&T iPhone since the introduction of iPhone 4.  Customers have been using this popular app for several years over Wi-Fi.  AT&T does not have a similar preloaded video chat app that competes with FaceTime or any other preloaded video chat application.  Nonetheless, in another knee jerk reaction, some groups have rushed to judgment and claimed that AT&T’s plans will violate the FCC’s net neutrality rules.  Those arguments are wrong. 

Providers of mobile broadband Internet access service are subject to two net neutrality requirements: (1) a transparency requirement pursuant to which they must disclose accurate information regarding the network management practices, performance, and commercial terms of their broadband Internet access services; and (2) a no-blocking requirement under which they are prohibited, subject to reasonable network management, from blocking applications that compete with the provider’s voice or video telephony services.

AT&T’s plans for FaceTime will not violate either requirement.  Our policies regarding FaceTime will be fully transparent to all consumers, and no one has argued to the contrary.  There is no transparency issue here. 

Nor is there a blocking issue.  The FCC’s net neutrality rules do not regulate the availability to customers of applications that are preloaded on phones.  Indeed, the rules do not require that providers make available any preloaded apps.  Rather, they address whether customers are able to download apps that compete with our voice or video telephony services.   AT&T does not restrict customers from downloading any such lawful applications, and there are several video chat apps available in the various app stores serving particular operating systems. (I won’t name any of them for fear that I will be accused by these same groups of discriminating in favor of those apps.  But just go to your app store on your device and type “video chat.”)  Therefore, there is no net neutrality violation.

Although the rules don’t require it, some preloaded apps are available without charge on phones sold by AT&T, including FaceTime, but subject to some reasonable restrictions.  To date, all of the preloaded video chat applications on the phones we sell, including FaceTime, have been limited to Wi-Fi.  With the introduction of iOS6, we will extend the availability of the preloaded FaceTime to our mobile broadband network for our Mobile Share data plans which were designed to make more data available to consumers.  To be clear, customers will continue to be able to use FaceTime over Wi-Fi irrespective of the data plan they choose.  We are broadening our customers’ ability to use the preloaded version of FaceTime but limiting it in this manner to our newly developed AT&T Mobile Share data plans out of an overriding concern for the impact this expansion may have on our network and the overall customer experience. 

We will be monitoring the impact the upgrade to this popular preloaded app has on our mobile broadband network, and customers, too, will be in a learning mode as to exactly how much data FaceTime consumes on those usage-based plans.  We always strive to provide our customers with the services they desire and will incorporate our learnings from the roll-out of FaceTime on our mobile broadband network into our future service offerings.

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TOPICS: Consumers, FCC, Mobile Broadband, Net Neutrality
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369 Comments

Comments (369)

This is such a money grab before your voice profits go up in smoke. Instead of screwing your customers why not spend your energy working on a new business plan for the changing times?

I’ve kept AT&T because of my unlimited data plan, but now you’ve given me the incentive to finally switch another carrier.

Why stay with AT&T when I can get the same phone and better service elsewhere?

Mike August 27, 2012 at 9:13 pm

I can’t believe you actually released this as a public statement. I’m mortified for your PR department. You just openly admitted that you are screwing your customers. Well, this seals it for me. My contract is up in the 2nd week of September. I’ll be a Verizon customer at that point. Good luck retaining a customer base that you take for granted and clearly have no respect for.

Tom G. August 28, 2012 at 1:39 pm

This has nothing to do with “preloaded.” It’s a simple attempt to use power to extract more money for NO value and a clear violation of Net Neutrality.

Jim McQuaid August 28, 2012 at 3:09 pm

This is ridiculous.

I’ve been an ATT mobile customer for so long that the iPhone wasn’t even on the radar.
This has been a slow decent into madness for ATT, and I won’t stand for the utter lack of care for the people paying ATT salaries.

As of next month I will be moving to another wireless provider.

Congratulations on chasing a long time customer away with your ignorant and utterly ludicrous policies and procedures that are nothing more than spitting on the faces of those who use your service.

Goodbye, and good riddance.

Brandon August 28, 2012 at 3:23 pm

You have got to be kidding with this “press release.” Disabling FaceTime is about screwing the customer, pure and simple, and no amount of corporate BS will make anything else.

Michael Lehner August 28, 2012 at 4:55 pm

Bye Bye ATT. Thanks for giving me (and the other phones on my plan) the final push to leave your after seven years as a high paying customer.

Blake Johnson August 28, 2012 at 6:50 pm

This is exactly the reason why I’ll be gone and switch as soon as the new iPhone is available… first they restricted tethering and now FaceTime! AT&T proves one more time that they are not capable to meet customer needs. Behavior like this is exactly why the US is behind all other countries in mobile & internet accessibility, why we loose jobs and innovation to other places! It is time, that we get more competition into this market so that companies like AT&T either are forced by market pressure or just simply go out of business for the good of all.
AT&T, whoever is responsible in your company for this kind of strategy you should strongly consider to fire them immediately and find people who think like the 21st century!

Chris August 28, 2012 at 7:09 pm

Oh, AT&T, I’m one of those users who doesn’t have a fancy (or any) text package. I can’t believe you’re into the terrible cusomer relations project of blocking an app the iPhone comes with, unless the customer ante’s up more. Greed, greed. I remember when “Ma Bell” got too big for her britches and was split up. And here you are again, pushing against the edges of the law, proving your reputation for greed has factual basis. You know, this was not a very smart move.Legal or not, this move is not customer-friendly, and reeks of greed. I’d think you’d want the Face Time app as a plus – not a disabled thing. The defensive gobbledegook on your blog page – well, I want to say “aww, c’mon, how much will you make? how much will you lose?” You think people will increase their already high-priced spread with you? Oh my. Well, as you note, there are other options. I can ignore the Face-Time app, I can download Skype, I can even leave AT&T.

Barbara Van Noord August 28, 2012 at 9:40 pm

I’ll be dropping my service with AT&T today.You should too! I’m looking forward to all of the exciting features and freedom that Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and others have to offer.

Bob September 12, 2012 at 5:16 pm

Goodbye AT&T. You as a company should really be ashamed at how you treat your customers. Nothing but lies (throttling unlimited data plans) to trying to force upgraded plans to use FaceTime. Terrible, simply terrible. You need to retact your FaceTime position and let customers use THEIR data they pay good money for however they want. Act now while you still have a shred of dignity left!

Bill September 13, 2012 at 11:18 am

It appears AT&T is the only major provider that’s going to limit FaceTime over a cellular network:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/verizon-allow-facetime-connections-over-4g-lte-network-184647782.html

From the article, “Verizon’s competitor Sprint has likewise announced customers will be able to use FaceTime over mobile without additional charge. AT&T customers, meanwhile, will only be able to take advantage of FaceTime over cellular if they’ve signed up for one of the company’s new shared data plans.”

U suck ATT.

Scott September 13, 2012 at 3:43 pm

At first I was staying with AT&T for my unlimited data and use of voice and data together. LTE fixes the latter issue for the other carriers. AT&T’s Ham-handed move to force me off my data plan was be the push I need to move everything over to Verizon.

Paul Scott September 16, 2012 at 12:21 pm

So why don’t you disable Google Talk on Android devices also. It comes preloaded with each new phones… This is unfair and shady business practice!

Aurelien September 17, 2012 at 12:03 am

What this is, is a STUNT to make your “grandfathered” unlimited data customers switch to a higher priced data plan so that you can put a “cap” on their data usage. This is poor business practices and nothing more. HELLO VERIZON!

Matt M September 18, 2012 at 12:58 pm

Wow. How utterly wrong. AT&T’s plans clearly violate both the letter and spirit of the FCC rules. Seriously, who are the lawyers working for AT&T? They should be sacked.

Now, there may be an argument that those FCC rules are invalid themselves, but that’s not the argument being made here. Instead, it’s ignoring the truth printed in black and white on the FCC’s rules pages.

Wow. How utterly amazing.

Let’s point out the big lie: “The FCC’s net neutrality rules do not regulate the availability to customers of applications that are preloaded on phones.”

Wrong. The FCC’s net neutrality rules DO regulate the availability to customers of applications that are preloaded on phones, and it applies to those applications such as FaceTime.

The plain language of the FCC rule clearly implies this. Nothing in the comments, notes, or deliberations by the FCC would lead anyone to think otherwise. Nothing in the rules states that they do not apply to pre-loaded applications. More importantly, the spirit of the rules is such that it is clear these rules were intended to block the type of actions AT&T is taking.

I will say, however, that AT&T is being transparent about this. Transparently wrong.

John Nelson September 18, 2012 at 2:02 pm

Why are you singling out FaceTime? Why not Skype? Or ooVoo? Or Lync? Or Google Talk? Or dozens of other video chat apps? Skype will be pre-loaded on Windows Phone 8, so you’re going to subject it to the same policies, right?

You’re not fooling anyone, AT&T. If you keep up these shenanigans, you will continue to receive bad publicity and lose customers… including me.

Todd McGuckin September 18, 2012 at 3:35 pm

Been an AT&T customer since Cingular was acquired. I’m leaving AT&T for Big Red because of this PR statement alone.

Even willing to pay the Early Termination Fee to get out.

Ron Atreides September 18, 2012 at 6:59 pm

bits are bits, ATT does the same BS with tethering. Imagine if your water company required you pay for an extra package just so you could use the water you already are paying for to wash your car, and if you plan on putting the water in any kind of storage container, you need an extra package.

stuff em.

annonymous_man September 18, 2012 at 8:51 pm

bits are bits, ATT does the same BS with tethering. Imagine if your water company required you pay for an extra package just so you could use the water you already are paying for to wash your car, and if you plan on putting the water in any kind of storage container, you need an extra package.

Why are they doing this? Because iMessage and similar apps/services like Blackberry Messenger and Facebook Messenger have eaten into their SMS texting profits. Their worried FaceTime will do the same with voice and will erect barriers to universal accessibility to telecommunications technologies even if it harms their deaf & hard of hearing customers. They also want FCC permission to phase out legacy copper wire (wire-line) services like dial-up Internet, DSL broadband and wire-line phone service.

Concerned Citizen September 18, 2012 at 9:05 pm

It was things of this ilk that prompted the “break-up” of the original AT&T Megalith in the first place-maybe it’s time for a redux, along with the rest of the big telecoms and cable monsters, as well.

Frustrated Customer September 18, 2012 at 9:29 pm

Classy move AT&T. I’m glad that my two iPhones are off contract so that I can take my business and my phones to T-Mo. Nice knowing ya.

Captcha agrees: imbecility iasque

soon to be former customer September 18, 2012 at 10:48 pm

I’ve been an AT&T Mobile customer since 1996. Same number and everything. I never had the motivation to look for another carrier.

Now I will.

Arman Grosso September 19, 2012 at 5:33 pm

I was looking forward to using FaceTime over without a wi-fi connection with the iO6 update and now I find out I can’t use it with my legacy unlimited data plan. If I didn’t have over a year left on my contract I would be leaving today. This is the straw that broke the camels back. I will definitely be switching to another company with all three of my family’s iphones when my contract is up. Thanks again for rewarding the customers who have actually been with you long enough to have the unlimited data plan.

Jeremy Cook September 19, 2012 at 8:10 pm

i just updated my iphone 4 to the ios 6 update. could not make a facetime call on 3g so i called att right away. i have aurgued with att rep for 2 hours. i am so pissed at att. kept asking what the difference in data was to the family plan to my unlimited plan… what exactally is different with the data ????? cmon fcc ruling !! if att dont allow me to use facetime on my individual plan i will never use att for anything for the rest of my life. never ever again att your done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

digital guy September 19, 2012 at 8:57 pm

This is a pile of nonsense. I have been an AT&T customer since 2006 (with Cingular) and am sadly seeing a trend in how the company treats its customers. I’ll be taking my organization’s business elsewhere as well soon…

Wintermute September 20, 2012 at 12:23 am

If AT&T doesn’t change this policy, I will be switching carriers as soon as my contract expires!!!

Jen Shallow September 20, 2012 at 11:35 am

Sounds like fraudulent and deceptive practices as well. Nowhere on the iphone5 ordering or AT&T agreement does it state that AT&T will be removing, blocking, disabling or otherwise making a broadly advertised feature unavailable to their customers. This is a significant impact to the value proposition and as it is clearly and intentionally deceptive, it is grounds for legal action. have a nice day.

mik September 20, 2012 at 12:15 pm

This is the worst thing that att has done to me. I have been a faithful customer since 2004, I have invested a lot of cash in to this cow called att and she doesn’t even give me the milk that I am paying for. If it takes me leaving and even paying the ETF and going to Verizon, I gotta get out of this messy company. They will be seeing me and my three iPhones in the rear view mirror.

Igottagetout September 20, 2012 at 3:21 pm

My wife and I been a ATT customers for 10 years and we’ve each had an iPhone from the first release. Not only that, but my wife and I have upgraded to each and every model each release, keeping our plans separate, as we have been grandfathered with our Unlimited Data Plans. We are direct withdrawal customers as well – so we are not dead beat bill skippers.

This move to cut us out of FaceTime is ludicrous. If it wasn’t for the iPhone, ATT would be out of business, that is the only reason I’ve stayed with them – as living in New England, Verizon is the clear choice for coverage.

Its a nickel and dime move, as I’ve been using Sykpe over 3G for years, so for them to limit FT is a cheap shot to us, their customers.

You would think in an economy like this and with Sprint and others offering such great deals – Customer retention would be a top priority.

Mark S September 20, 2012 at 3:48 pm

I’m with the rest between uverse and cell phones I’m at 6K a year. I called the rep today and had my account noted. AT&T has ninety days to reverse this decision or you’ve lost another long time customer. You’re forgetting that this decision impacts your most loyal customers. The decision has no real technical merits, it’s unethical, and potentially illegal. I hope the FCC can save you from yourself.

I’m a huge fan of AT&T customer service however this continued behavior simply will not be tolerated. We retain our right to vote with our dollar.

Chris J September 21, 2012 at 9:57 am

not fair att !!! we pay for data regardless of which plan we are on. stop blocking facetime or lose many loyal customers forever.

digital guy September 21, 2012 at 1:33 pm

Really, you’re going hobble my NEW IPhone and diminish my decision to reup my contract by disabling my access to FaceTime. Thanks, way to live up to your commitment to ‘Unlimited Data’. You clearly don’t appreciate customer loyalty given your decisions to violate our trust and not live up to your commitments.

Steve McGinnis September 22, 2012 at 2:40 pm

Arrogant!!! It is arrogance and lack of being in touch with customers that takes companies down. Reading this irritates me and embarrasses me to be a customer. The decision is bad enough but this blog wreaks of “we don’t care”. It is a major money grab or else smoke and mirrors because it would topple their crappy network. I hope there is a stampede to Verizon.

Ryan Cohlhepp September 22, 2012 at 3:09 pm

This post by Bob Quinn is deserving of both the “Facepalm of the Year” and “Epic Fail of the Year” awards. Anyone with at least high-school-level reading comprehension who has read the Open Internet Rules can plainly understand that the rules do not prohibit the blocking of *downloading* applications. The rules prohibit the blocking of the applications themselves. That AT&T would allow an official (or at least semi-official) response like this, that gets the facts so incredibly wrong, is simply appalling and laughable. I have formally filed a complaint against AT&T with the FCC. This is a *clear* violation of the Open Internet Rules and an attempt to protect AT&T voice services which compete directly with FaceTime.

Dan Moulding September 22, 2012 at 10:49 pm

Even if Bob is 100% correct in what he is saying this is about the most stupid action that AT&T could take. I think it will be ultimately ruled illegal to do this but why would you screw over the one segment of customers that basically saved AT&T’s rear? Before the iPhone gave them thousands of new customers people were flocking to Verizon. I left Verizon to go to AT&T because of the iPhone. Being lazy I guess has kept me here. Well thanks for the incentive AT&T. Unless you change your position you will loose me and a whole bunch of customers. Can you hear me now! What a moron.

Doug Morrow September 22, 2012 at 11:36 pm

As a fellow regulatory compliance professional, I am shocked to read Mr. Quinn’s interpretation of the regulatory requirements pertaining to net neutrality. Unlike other regulatory documentation, the FCC’s published rule is VERY clear, and leaves little room for argument on alternative interpretation.

Mr. Quinn may have been able to argue under the limited exceptions for network management, but obviously chose not to as to deter from suggestion that AT&T’s network is in any way inferior. His stated argument of “download applications” holds not water, the rule is very transparent and covers applications, services and any other non-harmful transmission of data.

Not only am I shocked your PR team approved this message, I’m amazed your legal team would agree with your interpretation.

Robert Moran September 22, 2012 at 11:50 pm

This is just another attempt by AT&T to try to milk more money out of it’s customers. The fact that they will allow it’s Shared Data plans use of Facetime over 3g, but not it’s grandfathered unlimited data plan users is clearly a sign of their greed.

Notice how all of the other cellular companies aren’t limiting Facetime over 3g? Wake up, AT&T.

Chris W September 23, 2012 at 1:57 am

I have been a customer for over 10 years. I have always prompted your services but I cant believe you guys block one of the coolest feature on the iphone. I will start looking for a new service provider.

Cory C. September 23, 2012 at 5:24 pm

This is nothing more than a money grab your new plans will cost me more every month as a multi line customer I’m giving you a very short time to treat your long time customers fair a change your position on this AT&T but if not just because your fleecing me this way I’m headed to verizon at least they aren’t surgar coating the BS I will not stay with you and pay you more simply because your forcing this issue I how ever will gladly pay verizon the extra money…

Larry September 23, 2012 at 9:06 pm

What absolute chickensh*t this is. There is NO WAY you can reasonable explain this. When my contract is up, I’m gone. This is the last straw from you greedy aholes.

Justin September 23, 2012 at 10:12 pm

I would have preferred if AT&T was honest and said,
“The reason why you can’t have FaceTime or or internet tethering (that the consumer pays for) is just because we just want more of your money!!!” Just admit it for once!

Sylvia Farrat September 24, 2012 at 9:58 am

ATT is lame. I would have switched if I was not on my corp plan. Time to go chat with our buyer who makes these decisions. I have Sprint at home and their service is much better.

Matt McGuire September 24, 2012 at 1:41 pm

I’ve been a costumer since this carrier was “singular” and I was very happy with AT&T until they put a throttle in my “unlimited data”… And now this…. You guys are really messing up… And I am Probly won’t be a AT&T costumer when contract is over… Probly will look for another carrier … Thx all for all this bull

Fabricio September 24, 2012 at 4:06 pm

Sounds like a class action law suit is in order. I too have AT&T’s “unlimited” data plan, which does not exclude any type data nor application. If this isn’t a breach of contract, then I don”t understand the term! I would have switched carriers if I knew all this before I upgraded to the iPhone 5. Worse, the sales clerk assured me my unlimited data plan would support Face Time.

PAUL WALLACE September 24, 2012 at 6:40 pm

Correct me if I am wrong, but unlimited data means unlimited data right? So, why would ATT not allow customers with this plan to use FaceTime over cellular? Would you please provide me with the unlimited data fine print so I can do my due diligence?

David Hindman September 24, 2012 at 8:33 pm

I found out about this today while trying to facetime my daughter over cellular data. AT&T, as a long time costumer, I am so disappointed for you trying to “trap” your old loyal costumers to “let go” of their unlimited plans! What a cheap shot! Absolutely disappointing.

Caroline Pineda September 25, 2012 at 11:26 am

Dear Atat,

I understand that Facetime over 3G network is a new feature I didn’t have 3 days ago. I CAN live without it. I get it… But its a new toy all the cool kids are playing with and i want it. Its like a job with no raise and no promotion for 10 years. Who wants to stick it out with that company? I need my new features to keep my sanity from the dropped calls, data caps, poor signal, crappy service. And now your telling me that with my UNLIMITED DATA PLAN that i already pay for. I need to change my plan to a new Unlimited Pro Plus Sickadelic plan to allow me to use a feature on my phone? **** off. This will be the straw that broke the camels back for me with Atat.

Brandon September 25, 2012 at 11:46 am

Says the carrier reporting over $6.1 billion in profit during Q1 alone…

AT&T needs to consider the ramifications of constantly being challenged and smeared around the press. This flimsy argument is quite funny! I had to make sure I was reading an official AT&T website for a minute.

If I’m giving up unlimited data…I’m giving up AT&T.

Dan Couv September 25, 2012 at 5:19 pm

I have stayed with At&T since 1997 more out of convenience then anything but I think that tradition is finally coming to an end. This a blatant violation of FCC net neutrality laws and the only person that does not think so is the lawyer you paid to get this idiotic ruling.

By the way, the FCC has already stated that they believe this is a violation and will act to correct this incorrect policy.

As for me, the lack of AT&T’s LTE in my area, the fact that Verizon does, & now this policy make it a real easy decision to finally leave AT&T when my contract is up.

Matt Poynter September 25, 2012 at 5:31 pm

I would encourage everyone to go to http://www.fcc.gov and file a personal complaint against these actions by AT&T. I’m still amazed at the arrogance of the statement above and the disregard for all customers especially their most loyal ones.

Ryan C September 25, 2012 at 9:00 pm

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