AT&T Responds to FaceTime Over Cellular Critics
AT&T Responds to FaceTime Over Cellular Critics
iOS 6 has yet to even be released and already, AT&T is finding the update controversial with its plans to only allow FaceTime over cellular connections from the carrier's new Mobile Share data plans, which launch on Thursday.
AT&T's Public Policy Blog is attempting to address the complaints of critics who find it unfair that the carrier is forcing customers to use its new Mobile Share data plans if they want to use FaceTime over cellular, a feature being introduced with iOS 6 this fall.
Many critics are crying foul over the limitation, claiming that the requirement to use a specific data plan is in violation of the FCC's net neutrality rules -- but AT&T is having none of it, calling these arguments "wrong" and "another knee jerk reaction."
"Our policies regarding FaceTime will be fully transparent to all consumers, and no one has argued to the contrary," the blog notes. "There is no transparency issue here."
Apparently, AT&T feels they can get away with this restriction because FaceTime comes preinstalled with the mobile operating system -- a key difference from apps such as Skype, which must be installed from the App Store.
"The FCC’s net neutrality rules do not regulate the availability to customers of applications that are preloaded on phones," the blog continues. "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. Therefore, there is no net neutrality violation."
The entire blog post is written in an overly confrontational, defensive manner and judging from the internet reaction on Wednesday morning, it's likely to fan the flames of discontent rather than calm the current backlash.
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