Make a FaceTime Video or Audio Call
One of the top questions people have about FaceTime is how to place a call, either with the original video call option or with the newer, high-quality-audio option. Straight from Apple, here’s how to make a video or audio call:
How do I make a FaceTime video call?
You can make a FaceTime video call in multiple ways from your iOS device.
- Phone: While on a phone call, you can tap the FaceTime icon to invite the other party to a FaceTime video call.
- FaceTime: Place a FaceTime video call using your contacts list by tapping the video icon.
- Contacts: Tap the FaceTime video icon to place a FaceTime video call to the contact you are viewing.
How do I make a FaceTime audio call?
You can make a FaceTime audio call in multiple ways from your iOS device.
- FaceTime: Place a FaceTime audio call using your contacts list by tapping the phone icon.
- Contacts: Tap the FaceTime phone icon to place a FaceTime audio call to the contact you are viewing.
It’s a simple as that. Hope this is helpful!
Video Guide to FaceTime on the iPhone
From the great teachers at Lynda.com comes this comprehensive tutorial on how to get the most out of Facetime on your iPhone. This video is a bit old, in that it uses iOS 6 instead of the current iOS, but concepts are still the same and even most of the settings work just like they used to.
If you want an in-depth look at the main features of FaceTime, this is a great place to start.
Facetime Audio Calls coming to your Mac
Starting in iOS 7 you could already make audio-only Facetime calls person-to-person. But with the upcoming point release of Max OS X Mavericks, you’ll be able to place audio calls from your Mac as well.
Check out 9 to 5 Mac for the details.
You may recall that Facetime uses extremely high-quality audio for voice calls–much better than you can get over traditional phone lines. This will be big.
Apple’s Commitment to Customer Privacy
From a press statement Apple released regarding US government requests for personal information:
conversations which take place over iMessage and FaceTime are protected by end-to-end encryption so no one but the sender and receiver can see or read them. Apple cannot decrypt that data.
So in short, Apple has reiterated (as of June 2013) that FaceTime calls and iMessages are secure and private, even from Apple. Even they cannot decrypt these communications.
Facebook App adds free audio calling in US & Canada
In a follow up to the last post, Facebook has added free audio calling (in the US & Canada) to it’s primary Facebook iOS app . Download it or update from the App Store to see the new feature.
Facebook Messenger = Free Calls in the US
The Verge and several other sources are reporting that you can now make free audio phone calls to your Facebook friends if you live in the US or Canada. You and the person you are calling will need to download Facebook Messenger for the iPhone. After that, it’s free audio calling. Plus free texting from app to app. You can’t beat free.
How to Facetime: A Visual Guide
With all the people who are constantly picking up new iPads, iPhones & Macs, I thought it might be helpful to post a visual guide for how to make a Facetime video call from one Apple device to another. I’ve tried to make this guide both simple but just thorough enough. Hit the jump to read the text version.
Facetime Home for Christmas
Apple released a commercial to highlight Facetime on the iPad and iPad Mini. Note the emphasis isn’t on the technology or megapixels or anything technical. Facetime is only good as a technology because of how it connects people, and this is a perfect example of how Apple gets it.
Facetime Over Cellular Networks Starts Fall 2012!
It’s a big week for Facetime with the announcement that in iOS 6 (coming Fall of 2012) Apple will allow Facetime calls to be placed not just over wi-fi, but also over cell phone calls. From Apple:
FaceTime now works over cellular networks as well as Wi-Fi, so you can make and receive FaceTime calls wherever you happen to be.4 You can even make and receive FaceTime calls on your iPad using your phone number. That means you can use FaceTime wherever you are, on any device. And never miss another wink, smile, air kiss, or eye roll.