Face Time
27 Aug 2013
An alternative to Skype, Face Time means you can use your phone to talk face-to-face to those on the other end.
Face Time is a function on iPhones and iPads that allows you to make video calls from your phone to friends and family.
Regardless of physical distance, Face Time allows you to speak face-to-face with your loved ones.
Face Time calls can be made over regular cellular networks or using Wi-Fi.
While video calling is free, when making calls over the network it does use your Internet data, so be sure to keep an eye on your usage so you don’t exceed your limit.
A reasonably new function, Face Time is included on the following Apple products:
- iPhone 4 models and later
- iPad second generation and later
- iPod touch fourth generation and later.
To make a video call the person you are calling must also have a device that is Face Time compatible.
If you are unsure which model of iPhone you have, the key is that the phone must have a front facing camera.
How to make a Face Time call from your iPhone
- Launch the phone app from the Home screen of your iPhone. This will direct you to a list of your saved Contacts.
- Scroll down and tap on the name of the person you want to call. If their phone is compatible a Face Time icon with a video camera will be included at the bottom of their list of details.
- When you tap on the Face Time icon the call will connect and you will see the other person on the screen.
You can also swap to a Face Time call from a normal phone call without having to hang up. If Face Time is available the icon will be visible on the call menu alongside mute, keypad, speaker and contacts. Simply tap the icon and the call will convert to video.
How to make a Face Time call from your iPad or iPod touch
Unlike on the iPhone, Face Time on iPad and iPod touch is a separate app that comes pre-loaded on the device.
- Launch the app, which will be found on your Home screen.
- Select the name of the person you want to call from the list of Contacts.
- When calling from an iPad or iPod device you have the option to contact via phone or email. This will depend on how the person you are contacting has registered for Face Time.
- Tap their phone or email and when the other person accepts your call the video will connect.
Face Time or Skype?
Until Apple launched Face Time, Skype was the only available option for making video calls over the Internet.
The benefit of using Face Time over Skype on your iPhone is that it automatically detects the people in your Contact list who are Face Time compatible. When using Skype you must manually add people to your contact list.
Also, to use Skype on your mobile you need to also download it, whereas if you own an iPhone 4 or later model Face Time is automatically included.
A stand out benefit of Face Time is that it is free to make group calls, whereas Skype charges a premium for this feature.
With both Skype and Face Time the quality of your Internet connection or service will affect the clarity of the call. Many also report that while Face Time allows you to connect while on the move, it can also be quite disorienting as callers struggle to keep the hand holding the phone still.
Android
Android phones do not currently come with an included video calling capability. If you have a front facing camera on your Android phone simply download Skype from the Google Play store to make video calls.
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