Facetime is a videotelephony app developed by Apple Inc., available to iOS devices running on iOS 4 and later releases. It works by establishing a connection between two supported devices. If you have an Apple mobile device like iPhone or iPads, you might be wondering if you can use the Facetime app to make international calls.
So, can you Facetime internationally? You can use Facetime internationally using an internet connection like Wi-Fi to make calls for free, and also when using service plan as Apple added the international call option to cellular service with the release of iOS 7. There may be charges for using data plans to make Facetime calls depending on the plan.
Making international calls using the cellular service on Facetime was not possible in the previous versions, but with the iOS update, this is now possible. As all you need is an active mobile data plan or connect your iPhone or iPad to a working Wi-Fi network. If you have a limited mobile data plan, you should use a Wi-Fi internet connection to avoid additional charges.
Many people have relatives and friends living in other countries and would love to talk to them regularly. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can use it to communicate with them if they also have an Apple device.
Smartphones and tablets have made it easy for us to communicate with our loved ones worldwide. Apple Inc. developed Facetime so that users can make voice or video calls using the app to other users with the app on their devices. If you have an Apple mobile device with the Facetime app, you might be wondering if you can use it to make international calls.
You can use Facetime to make international calls because Apple Inc. included the international call option after the release of iOS 7. Before that, you could only make local calls using Facetime. Using the Facetime app is easy since you only need a working internet connection.
Facetime is available only on Apple devices; hence you cannot communicate with your friend or relative in another country using an Android or Windows phone. You can use a Wi-Fi connection or purchase a mobile data plan from your mobile network provider. You do not need to install Facetime on your iPhone or iPad, and it is one of the apps pre-installed on new Apple devices.
To make an international call using Facetime is easy. First, ensure that your Apple mobile device is connected to Wi-Fi or turn on Mobile Data. Ensure that you have an active mobile data plan before turning on Mobile Data. Launch Facetime and tap the “+” button.
Type the name, email address, or the number of the person you want to call. Tap “Audio” if you want to make a voice call or “Video” if you want to make a video call. If you are going to speak to more than one person, enter their names, email addresses, or numbers and create a group call.
If you are using an Apple mobile device for the first time, you need to set up Facetime before you can start making calls. Unlike other apps that need to be installed from the App Store, Facetime is already installed on your new iPhone or iPad. For example, if you have an iPhone, launch “Settings,” scroll down, and tap “Facetime” to turn it on.
Tap “Use your Apple ID for Facetime” and tap “Sign In”. If you do not have one, you can create an “Apple ID” on your phone. Select the phone number or email address people will use to reach you via Facetime. Select the phone number or email address you want to use as “Caller ID.”
If the international call you want to make will last more than an hour, you should use a Wi-Fi internet connection. Using mobile data will make you incur more costs if you exceed the limit on your plan. You should also confirm which internet connection you are using before making an international call on Facetime.
You might think you are using the Wi-Fi connection, but it was disabled, and for the entire call, you used all your mobile data. To avoid having a poor-quality international call, always use the audio call instead of a video call if you’re using a weak Wi-Fi connection.
You should note that Facetime is only available on Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPad Touch, and Apple Watch. If your relative or friend living in another country owns an Android or Windows mobile device, you cannot use Facetime to call them. You have to install another third-party app to call them, such as Skype. You can suggest they acquire an Apple mobile device with Facetime if you do not want to use third-party apps.
Are Facetime Calls Free Internationally or Do they Have a Cost?
For many years, communication among people has greatly improved. Today, you can video call people living hundreds of thousands of miles away. Facetime has made communication simpler, and with a few taps, you could talk to your friends or relatives in other countries. If you want to make an international call using the Facetime app, you might be wondering whether it is free or you will be charged.
International calls are free on Facetime if you use a Wi-Fi internet connection. However, you have to purchase mobile data if you cannot access Wi-Fi. Facetime needs an internet connection to work, and you can either use a Wi-Fi connection or mobile data.
Mobile network providers have different mobile data subscriptions that you can use to access internet services on your phone. The only cost you will incur when using mobile data is buying your mobile data plan. Your mobile network provider will not charge you extra if the call you are making via Facetime is international.
Facetime is available on supported Apple mobile devices for free, and there are no additional charges when you make a call. The only thing you need to pay for is a Wi-Fi network or mobile data. As long as your phone is connected to a working Wi-Fi connection, you can call anyone in another country for as long as you want.
If you are using mobile data, the time will be limited by the amount of data you have purchased or subscribed to. Whether you are making an international call or a local one on Facetime, the amount of data consumed will be the same.
Sometimes the Wi-Fi connection you are using might be slow, making the video call on Facetime low quality. Most people would switch off the Wi-Fi connection and start using their mobile data, which improves video call quality. If you decide to use your mobile data to improve video quality, ensure that you do not exceed your mobile data limit.
If you have a slow Wi-Fi connection and do not want to incur extra costs by using mobile data, you can switch the call from video to audio. You can turn off video in the middle of a phone call, and the audio quality will improve.
Most public places like restaurants and coffee shops usually have free Wi-Fi for their customers. If you want to utilize the free Wi-Fi to make an international Facetime call, you must exercise phone etiquette. Since you will be speaking in public, you need to regulate your voice.
Other people are using the free Wi-Fi to work, and it is rude to interrupt them when you talk too loudly. You should also use headphones or Apple AirPods to prevent people nearby you from listening to your conversation. If any of the people sitting next to you or a worker asks you to lower your voice, apologize to them and lower your voice.
If you use your mobile data, you need to limit data usage to avoid paying an expensive mobile bill. You can turn low data on your iPhone or iPad through the settings. Under “Settings”, select “Cellular.” Click on “Cellular Data Options” and switch on “Low Data Mode.” Even if your Apple mobile device supports a 5G Cellular Network, you also need to enable this data mode since 5G Network tends to use more data than other Networks.
Can You Facetime Long Distance for Free?
When you purchase a new smartphone, you need a SIM card from mobile network providers such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile, among others. The mobile network provider usually charges for services like data, voice calls, and messaging. If you want to Facetime a relative or friend living far from you, you might be wondering if the long-distance call will be free or not.
You can Facetime for free on a long-distance call because Apple Inc does not charge people when they use their application. You only need a working internet connection, Wi-Fi, or mobile data. After you pay your Wi-Fi provider or purchase a subscription to a data plan from your mobile network provider, you will not incur any charges regardless of where you make a call through Facetime.
You can choose to make a voice or video call to any location in the world, depending on how strong your internet connection is. If you are using a Wi-Fi connection, you can make that long-distance call for as long as you want, but you have to check the time if you are using mobile data.
Facetime video calls use a lot more data than voice calls; therefore, you should use a Wi-Fi connection if you want to call someone living in another country. Most people use limited mobile data plans, and if you exceed your limit, you will be charged extra. Therefore, if you do not have a Wi-Fi connection or cannot find one, you should turn off the video feature on Facetime.
It is easy to lose track of time when talking Facetiming, hence voice calls are the best way of limiting your data usage. It is enjoyable to see the face of a loved one living far from you but it will not be enjoyable when you receive an expensive mobile bill at the end of the month.
When making a long-distance call using Facetime, you need to be aware of the time difference with the person you are calling. You need to check the local time of the place your relative or friend is living before calling them.
If the time is inappropriate for a call, you should not make the call. It is very infuriating to receive a Facetime call while sleeping in the middle of the night. You can send the person a text and ask when they can answer a call. You should also ensure you have perfect lighting and a strong Wi-Fi connection to ensure you have a good quality video call.
If you cannot make a long-distance call using Facetime, first ensure you have a working internet connection. Confirm if the Wi-Fi you are connected to is working, and in case you are using mobile data, ensure you have an active data plan and you have turned on “Use Cellular Data”.
You should also check if Facetime is turned on. Scroll through settings, select Facetime, and ensure the button next to is set to “On”. Check if you have signed in on Facetime because you cannot make a call without signing in.
You can sign in using your phone number or Apple ID. If you still cannot make calls, restart your device and try again. Check if your Apple mobile device iOS is up to date and, if not, update it. If none of these solutions work, you should contact Apple support for help.
Wrap Up
Due to globalization, most people have relatives and friends living in different countries. If you are looking forward to talking to your relatives and friends living in different countries, Facetime makes it easier for you. You and the person you want to call should have an Apple mobile device with Facetime support.
Facetime is free of charge, both local and international; the only costs you will incur while using the app are paying for Wi-Fi or subscribing to a mobile data plan. Wi-Fi is the cheaper option because most providers offer unlimited internet; what differs is the speed.
Once you pay for a Wi-fi connection, you can facetime with anyone across the globe without worrying about an expensive bill. If you do not have Wi-Fi, you can use your mobile data to Facetime, but the time you can spend on Facetime will depend on your mobile data plan.
If you have reached the data usage limit, you will be charged extra or unable to continue with the call depending on the mobile network provider.
