Facetime is one of the best aspects of using an iOS or macOS device. It is a video calling app free for iPhone that will help you keep in touch with your loved ones.
By default, Facetime is configured for both Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
Does this rule change when we are dealing with international calls? Let us take a deeper dive into Facetime’s operations to get you an answer;
Is Facetime Free Internationally With Wi-Fi?
International calls are free on Facetime if you have them connected to a Wi-Fi network. Facetime allows free audio and video calls to all users with Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, Macs, etc.
Despite your location, the call is free, but you will incur some payment in terms of data unless you use a Wi-Fi connection since Facetime transmits high-quality audio and video of large sizes.
Must You Have Wi-Fi For Facetime?
Facetime is an online video chatting service; thus, it needs access to data for it to work. Both Wi-Fi and cellular data are enabled to work with Wi-Fi.
However, when your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network, Facetime will default to Wi-Fi.
So is it compulsory to have a Wi-Fi connection for you to use Facetime? No, you don’t need a Wi-Fi connection, but having one will be cost-effective and convenient for you.
If you are not connected to a Wi-Fi network, you can still make a Facetime call using your cellular data.
When it comes to video chatting, all you are doing is sending and receiving high-quality video and audio.
Facetime will therefore use a lot of data. If you have a capped cellular data plan, you should consider disabling Facetime’s access to your cellular data.
If not, you might end up tearing through your monthly data quickly and risk getting a massive bill.
Wi-Fi is always turned on for Facetime, and there is nothing you can do to change that. You can, however, cut off Facetime from using cellular data. It is made that way by design to save you the trouble with bills.
- Go to your settings app on the homepage.
- In the list of settings options, tap on cellular to get more details.
- In the cellular screen, scroll down to the cellular data section. Here, you will see all the apps that have access to your cellular data. Find Facetime in the list and tap its toggle on the left to switch it off.
Once this is done, you will only be able to make Facetime calls when connected to a Wi-Fi network. This will be handy, especially if you have a metered cellular data, since it will save you a lot of money.
Facetime For Android Users
Most Android users were excited about Apple’s announcement that Facetime is coming to Android.
Facetime is one reason why some users shift from Android to iOS, and by offering then Facetime in Android, Apple has given users an amazing product.
It is not the complete Facetime that iPhone users have, but it is reasonably functional. You can’t download a Facetime app for Android since it does not exist, but you can use a web browser to join a chat.
Functionally, it will do all the things an app would, but it has some limitations. The most significant limitation is that the Android user cannot initiate a Facetime call.
Only an iOS user can start a call or schedule one then send links to Android users.
The Android or Windows user can then open the link in a browser and join the Facetime link. Later on, there might never be a Facetime App for Android, but for now, the fact that you can do it is impressive.
Open up Facetime on your iOS device, and you will notice a new “Create link” button. Tap on the button, and you will be able to send it to any of your contacts by clicking on them.
The Android user will then get a notification of the invite into the chat. Click on the contact name of the person sending the invite in the notification window.
In the next window, tap on the Facetime link; it will be a white square with the Apple logo in it.
On Android, you need to input the name you want to be displayed on the call. Now click join to get the connection notification sent back to the iPhone.
The iPhone user has to confirm the connection, and you will be connected on Facetime. The setup in the browser is as good as the one you’d get in an app. It has an opaque background, and the video is high quality.
You can also share the link from an Android device for a group chat, but you can’t create the link. You will get Facetime camera effects that will use an Android device as good as that of an iOS.
Another limitation is that Android users can’t share the screen. There is a share screen button, but sharing can only happen between iPhones. You can now start Facetime on Android, so you don’t miss out on all the fun.
Unique Facetime Features In iOS 15
Facetime is an app that has been sensational since it was launched, and it keeps getting better with more upgrades. The most recent update was the Facetime that came with iOS 15 for iPhone users.
There are numerous video calling platforms, but Facetime is at the top of the list because of its unique blend of features. Here are some features that make Facetime stand out from the competition;
Voice isolation
The biggest problem associated with video calling is background noise and how it affects audio quality on the receiver’s end. Background noises like fans or other machines make it near impossible to communicate.
With the new Facetime, you don’t need to worry about this. With the tap of a button, you can isolate your voice and cancel out all background noises.
This will make for a streamlined and clean audio output that will give a better experience. You can also go to messages while the chat is still going on.
To reduce the interruptions with notifications, you can turn off notification sound under settings. You can also extend your video to an Apple TV and video call from there to get a better view.
Spatial Audio
This feature will create a sound field that makes conversations flow as easily as they would face to face.
The voices of everyone in a group chat are spread out to sound like they are coming from the direction of their image on the screen. This will make your calls more natural and comfortable, which will give a better experience.
At times, you might want all the sound to go through the call. When you switch to a wide spectrum, you will pick up all the sounds, your voice, and everything around you.
A wide spectrum might not be a common choice since most noises are destructive.
Grid and portrait view in video calling
With grid view, you will see people in the same size tiles, which will allow you to identify who is speaking. You will also get everyone’s reactions which will make for a better conversation in general.
In portrait mode, Facetime takes advantage of the iPhone’s stunning portrait pictures. It blurs the background and focuses on the user, making the video much clearer.
Share play
Music is a big part of today’s society, so there is a decent chance that you could be talking about a song in your chat with a friend. With Share Play, you can bring the song into your conversation.
When you are in a call, you need to press play in Apple music, and you will listen to the song together. High-quality music will play for everyone on the call, and the Facetime connection will remain.
Anyone in the call can add songs to a chat, and the controls allow everyone to play, pause or jump to the next track. You can also watch together by going to a streaming app and pressing play.
Share play moves fluidly throughout the system, whether it is transmitting audio or video. The controls are always accessible with a single tap.
Conclusion
Facetime is accessible to all iPhone users as long as you have the data to support it. You can even make international calls for free on Wi-Fi or cellular data, but it is a good idea to stick to Wi-Fi.
Just like Instagram, Facetime needs a lot of data to transmit high-quality video and audio. Facetime is now available for android devices.
Any Android device can connect to Facetime through a Facetime link that can be opened in any browser. Android users can only join the chats and share the link, but they can’t initiate a Facetime call.
Facetime keeps coming with new features that make it more useful and a better option. Features like voice isolation and spatial audio in iOS 15 Facetime make the conversation more fluid and life-like.
