Why Apple's Facetime costs a SMS for each call - And most likely why.
Recently when using my iPhone4, I changed out the micro SIM to try a Telecom Sim and noticed this screen below and thought that was interesting.
iPhone SMS screen showing possible charges
So I asked VodafoneNZ on Twitter, and they confirmed these charges.
Twitter conversation - read from the bottom up
So obviously I looked at my bill to see what I have been charged for.
Vodafone bill - I got my iPhone on the 5/08/2010
And there are two charges to a UK number (44).
After reading around a bit and with details from Vodafone, what am I really charged for using FaceTime?
MY THEORY ON COSTS.
1. When you first get your phone, Facetime needs to register with this 44 number to say, "hey I got facetime, you can facetime me"
2. If your carrier settings change, it may need to re-register with this service as I can see I have been charged 2x and I know my carrier settings have changed once.
3. When calling your friends in New Zealand using the Facetime button in contacts (eg not switching to a Facetime call during a normal call). I can see I am charged one of my SMS messages on my account, luckily I get heaps.
4. When calling a friend overseas (I have no clue).
ANOTHER THEORY
1. SMS to the 44 number for each new contact you Facetime
2. SMS might or might not be required for any subsequent Facetime calls (could use push notifications).
@tarlen's possible explanation
Since I have only successfully had 3 Facetime calls with friends and only been charged 2x, I think the international message is only to register me and the device.
WHY SHOULD I PAY A SMS MESSAGE TO FACETIME.
I think this is both good and bad, overall it might be the price to pay so we don't get Facetime voice spam.
GOOD
• When the price of something is free then it is very easy to spam - eg email spam, costs virtually nothing to send an email, lots of spam.
• SMS messages in general are very reliable, I don't recall or know of missing a SMS message in the last year or two.
• I get enough SMS messages bundled in my plan to not worry one bit.
BAD
• Well Apple has a super massive data centre that they bragged about at WWDC last year that can send millions of push messages very quickly and can handle massive loads. They could have used this. It is possible that they are.
• Do I have to pay even if the use does not pickup. (this could be good, as that could also be used by spammers to simple call you, hang up and see if you call back).
• Cost and international costs which are not in my free bundle. (assuming Facetime uses SMS messages for all calls).
I am open to any comments here.
