The iPhone 4 was the first iPhone with a front facing camera and with that came FaceTime, Apple’s video calling solution. As other Apple products, FaceTime became immensely popular because of its ease of use and the vast popularity of iPhone.
Today people prefer FaceTime for video calling instead of other applications like Skype and Viber because FaceTime is just easier to use, iOS exclusive and more polished, similar to Apple’s iMessage.
However, if you’re planning to buy an iPhone anytime soon or are just asking that relative or friend to bring one for you from the Middle East, here’s why you shouldn’t. FaceTime, as we know, is a VOIP service. Because of a law in that region regarding VOIP services, Apple can’t sell FaceTime enabled iPhones. No way around that. iPhones over there just can’t get FaceTime.
Not only that, even if you buy your iPhone from there and plan to use it at your home country where FaceTime is allowed, there is no way you can install FaceTime on that particular Middle Eastern iPhone. Even guys at the Apple Store can’t do it.
So, there’s something to chew on. Do you love FaceTime? Do you hardly use it? Factor that in and decide whether you can live with or without it before getting an iPhone on your next trip to Dubai!
