Apple's iPhone: No FaceTime on Verizon's 3G network

For all the supposed benefits of Verizon's network for iPhone users, they'll experience one of the same limitations there that they have on AT&T: They won't be able to make video calls using Apple's FaceTime program over Verizon's 3G network.

Apple and Verizon officials confirmed Wednesday that the Verizon version of the iPhone -- like the AT&T one before it -- will only be able to make FaceTime calls while connected to Wi-Fi hotspots.

"FaceTime requires Wi-Fi," Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said in an e-mail exchange. "Same as on iPhone 4 on AT&T today."

Apple has limited FaceTime to Wi-Fi calls since it unveiled the software in June when it launched the iPhone 4. Company officials said then that limitation would stay in place through the end of 2010. But at the time, company officials said they would be talking with Apple's carrier partners about allowing FaceTime calls on their cell phone networks and held out the possibility that iPhone users would be able to make such calls this year.

There's been some concern that video calling using FaceTime or other programs would stress cell phone networks, since video applications tend to consume vast amounts of bandwidth. AT&T's network has already been stressed by the iPhone and the company has been widely criticized by iPhone users for dropped calls, slow data throughput and inaccessible service. That made its lack of support for FaceTime understandable, if frustrating to iPhone users.

By contrast, Verizon has touted the resilience of its network and said it is more than ready to handle iPhone users' data traffic. But at least for now, that traffic won't include FaceTime calls.

IPhone users can make video calls on AT&T's network using other applications, including Skype and Fring. A Verizon representative declined to say whether those programs will work on the company's network also, directing the question to Kerris. Kerris did not immediately respond to an e-mail inquiry.

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