FaceTime uses international SMS??

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ahmad

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#65233 31-Jul-2010 16:11

When I first set up my iPhone 4, I got a warning message saying that Facetime may charge for SMS used to activate video calling (Screenshot courtesy of iphonewzealand who were trying it on XT; I am using Vodafone NZ):

I just checked my Vodafone billing and I got charge 17c +gst for a TXT to: 00447786205094

It seems I was billed when I first set up the iPhone, and subsequent again when I tried (unsuccessfully) to activate a FaceTime call.

What's going on? Why am I TXT'ing the UK to use FaceTime? Was this advertised with the huge posters proclaiming Apple has brought Video Calling to the masses?

Will I be charged this for every single video call? And why is it a UK number instead of a local number which might conceivably be included in our iPhone plans?

I am on the line to Vodafone iPhone support right now

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#360676 31-Jul-2010 16:13

Looking at that screenshot you seem to be on Telecom... so why are you calling Vodafone?

or is that a generic screenshot from somewhere else?

Just curious.

Cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

ahmad

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#360679 31-Jul-2010 16:18

Sorry Paul! I can't just make that screen "appear" again to screenshot it myself (it came up twice "randomly" and there isn't a way to get it to re-appear manually).

The screenshot above was taken by the guys over at iphonewzealand.

I have an open support case with the Vodafone iPhone help desk (they are a great bunch of guys and gals by the way Paul) and they have undertaken to contact me tomorrow to check my account after I try to make some FaceTime calls tonight.

The way the help desk understands it (and the way other users understand it) is that activation *should* be a one-off SMS so they agree it is weird that I have been billed at least twice.

miguelwrang

121 posts

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#360684 31-Jul-2010 16:28

I get the same charge to the same number for the once facetime call I have tried to initiate. I didn't however get that warning message or a charge when setting up my iphone

ahmad

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#360688 31-Jul-2010 16:33

Miguel have you made any other FaceTime calls?

Would you like to try now with me? If so please PM me your number and I can try?

I just looked at an Apple Support file which gives a solution to one problem as "try deactivating FactTime in settings and then turning it back on".

I wonder if I played around with this setting and if so does that mean anyone having to do this will be charged each and every time?

I know it's only a matter of cents but it's not very clearly disclosed. Also it's a shame that the activation TXT seems to be sent to the UK which costs rather than local which could be included in bundled TXTs.

LennonNZ

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#360697 31-Jul-2010 16:53

It seems there is a hidden SMS messge sent to a UK number for the facetime service to activate it..

I presume your iPhone is a UK iPhone?

Do the NZ iPhone 4 for facetime send to the number?

ahmad

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#360699 31-Jul-2010 16:54

Just to clarify - iPhone 4 purchased from Vodafone New Zealand at yesterday's "launch"

ahmad

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#360717 31-Jul-2010 17:26

Update: I have received and initiated several FaceTime calls to 2 other users and will check my Vodafone online billing later tonight and report back.

I do now wonder if an activation TXT is sent each and every time the FaceTime "on/off" setting is reset. This might be a problem for those that are having trouble with FaceTime and are advised as part of the solution to reset that FaceTime setting on repeated occasions.

One solution would be for Apple to have a local activation number that could be used instead of the +44 UK number, and for Vodafone for include TXTs to this number within plan bundle TXTs.

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VFNZPaulBrislen

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#360719 31-Jul-2010 17:32

Odd. I'll chase up with Apple as well - I believe FaceTime uses wifi rather than 3G so it's not one of the features we have much to do with... but I'll ask my counterpart in Aus and see if they have any idea.

Cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

ahmad

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#360720 31-Jul-2010 17:33

Thanks Paul, I will update the thread later as promised regardless of whether I am further charged or not.

digitaldivide

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#360724 31-Jul-2010 17:42

I understand that under:

/System/Library/Carrier Bundles/46000/carrier.plist

There is:

<key>PhoneNumberRegistrationGatewayAddress</key>
<string>00447786205094</string>

The FaceTime registration to 00447786205094 has also been reported in Germany and France.

lotech

126 posts

Master Geek

#360729 31-Jul-2010 17:48

From what I know (not much) you can switch from a live call (say via Vodafone) to Facetime (which is only Wifi) without disconnecting the call, which is impressive but it must have to tell the other iphone your IP address to switch to Facetime as it would be the only way of sending information the phone will guarantee will get through to the other phone. This could explain the mystery txt.

freitasm

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#360739 31-Jul-2010 18:02

Ahmad, you activate the iPhone 4 FaceTime once when you turn the feature on. If you change the SIM card it will require activation as the number is a different one.

Looking at what (little) is known of the protocol, the phone number is part of the identification that allows the device to join the Apple server and use XMPP to exchange control messages.

If you activated the FaceTime with one SIM, then changed it to another number then a subsequent SMS will be required.

As for it being an international SMS, no big deal, it should only be sent once. You wouldn't complain of $0.20 being between you and your FaceTime friends, would you?

ahmad

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#360742 31-Jul-2010 18:09

I didn't change my SIM at all. I have only used this cut-down SIM in my phone - no others.

Hence I was confused at the second charge given that when I asked around people said it was a "one-time" TXT.

I'm not complaining about 20c per se, but it's not particularly well disclosed by Apple in their marketing.

Sure, 20c on a $1299 device being marketed is nothing but it should be disclosed all the same - not just after you buy the phone and come to use it.

And it seems that it could be 20c per reset of the FaceTime setting (which some may have to do as part of FaceTime troubleshooting). They may not be aware of the 20c/reset charge (this is presuming I am correct in my guess that a new TXT is sent per reset of this setting.

If I was in the UK I guess I wouldn't notice it as it would come bundled in the included plan TXTs.

digitaldivide

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#360746 31-Jul-2010 18:29

Initial registration is via SMS, irrespective of your network provider ... WiFi / GSM / WCDMA

That UK registration number you see is the same one as on iPhone 4 stock in Europe.

I understand Australia has a different registration number.

Perhaps the unit you have, was intended for another region than NZ...

ahmad

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#360753 31-Jul-2010 19:01

digitaldivide: Initial registration is via SMS, irrespective of your network provider ... WiFi / GSM / WCDMA

That UK registration number you see is the same one as on iPhone 4 stock in Europe.

I understand Australia has a different registration number.

Perhaps the unit you have, was intended for another region than NZ...

Why would the registration number (if regionalised) be hard coded into the phone rather than provided in firmware/software? Because at time of iTunes activation it should know that I am 1) in New Zealand and 2) using a Vodafone NZ SIM card.

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