How to use FaceTime on your iPhone, iPad or Mac

There are many apps that will allow one to video chat on iOS or OS X, SkyPe being only one of them, but few will rise up to the easiness of FaceTime. With FaceTime you can make video calls with anyone that has the application installed on their iDevice or Mac. Here’s an article about how to use FaceTime.

iDevice Compatibility

FaceTime is compatible with the following devices that are running iOS: iPad 2, the new iPad, iPhone 4 and 4S and the fourth generation iPod touch. You can also run FaceTime on a Mac that is capable of running Snow Leopard and has a video camera attached. For using HD video calls you will need an Intel-based Mac machine.

FaceTime on a Mac

If you already have Mac OS 10.8 Mountain Lion or own a new Mac, FaceTime is already installed. If your Mac is of the older kind, you can purchase the application from the Mac App Store. It costs only $0.99 and it’s well worth the money.

FaceTime Setup on iOS

Here is how you can install FaceTime on your iOS device, be it an iPhone or an iPad. From the home screen of the device choose Settings and tap on FaceTime. Turn FaceTime to the On position and select “Use your Apple ID for FaceTime”. You will next have to sign in with your Apple ID and will have to wait just a few second for the activation of the service. The Apple ID is the email address and password you use to make purchases through iCloud, the iTunes Store and the App Store. If you have iOS 6 you will be able to make FaceTime calls through a cellular network. Using AT&T also means you will have to have a Mobile Share Data Plan to use the feature. Using FaceTime with a cellular network will generate high traffic. This also means you will have to pay more if you wish to use FaceTime through your cellular operator.

Making Calls Through FaceTime By Using An iPhone

You can make a FaceTime video call by using one of two methods.

1. Open up the Contacts app or open up the Phone app and use Contacts from there.
2. Select the person you would like to video chat with.
3. Click on FaceTime at the bottom of the screen.
4. Several options will be presented to you. If the person you are calling uses an iPhone, you will be presented with that person’s phone number. If the person already has set up his or hers Apple ID to accept FaceTime calls, then it will work the same. If the device you are calling is a Mac or an iPad, you will have to use the email address or the Apple ID of the owner of the device.

Starting a FaceTime call from an iPod Touch, iPad or a Mac

There devices all have a dedicated FaceTime application. If you are using a Mac you will have to go to Applications, FaceTime. You will then have to sign in using your Apple ID to activate the service. The application will ask you what email address should be used for FaceTime and then you will have to click Next. You should be informed that the account is being verified.

1. Search for the contact which you are trying to chat with.
2. Select the email address of the contact or the phone number of that contact that is associated with the FaceTime account they hold. Calling people on an iPhone means that they have to have either a WiFi network in range or a contract with a cellular data provider.

If you are the one receiving the call you should press the Accept button and start chatting. Pressing Decline will end the aforementioned call.

Making audio-only calls

Make a video call using the same steps as above. Once you have connected you should tap the Home button and then you’ll be able to continue talking by using only the audio part of FaceTime.
To use FaceTime you have to make sure you are using the right hardware and software. The major downside of FaceTime is that it is only available on Apple devices. If you want to video or audio chat with someone who is using a PC or an Android device you will have to use another software, something like Skype.