If you’re eager to get into the newest video chat craze, you’ll want to check out Apple’s FaceTime, a video calling app that makes it easy to video chat with your friends and family. The app is free and easy to use.
FaceTime is compatible with the following Apple products:
- iPhone 4
- iPod touch (the latest version)
- iPad 2
- Any Mac that runs OS X 10.6.6 or higher
Using FaceTime on your iPhone 4, iPad 2 or iPod Touch
If you’ve got an iPhone 4, you’re set up for video chat. The iPhone 4 features a forward-facing camera and a fantastic retina display. This means you can see yourself while watching your friend as you chat. You’ll need Wi-Fi access, though, because this won’t connect over 3G.
If you want to chat with another iPhone 4 user, make sure you both have each other’s contact information saved in your phones. Then you’ll simply call through that person’s phone number by tapping on the FaceTime icon and selecting their number off your contact list. To use your iPhone 4 to chat with someone on an iPod or iPad 2, you’ll contact them through their email address.
To connect through your iPod Touch or iPad 2, you’ll also need Wi-Fi. You’ll tap on the FaceTime icon and find your chat partner on your contact list, whether listed as a phone number or email address, and initiate a chat by tapping on the contact information.
Video Chat from Your Mac
Download the FaceTime app and then sign in using your Apple ID. You’ll have to choose an email address to assign to your FaceTime app as your FaceTime ID. Then choose from your contacts list or add new contacts to your Mac address book. You can connect with people using any of the devices mentioned above just by clicking on their contact info (email address or phone number, depending on what device they are using).
One cool thing about using your Mac to receive FaceTime video chat calls is that your Mac will ring—like a telephone rings—every time someone initiates a chat with you. In fact, you can even set it up such that every Mac you own rings when the person calls, which means you can answer calls from whatever Mac you’re on.
Try FaceTime for a fun, modern video chat experience!
Erinn Stam is the Managing Editor for scholarships for nursing school. She attends Wake Technical Community College and is learning about government nursing scholarships. She lives in Durham, NC with her lovely 4-year-old daughter and exuberant husband.