AT&T stated that preloaded video chat apps on BlackBerry Android and iPhone, with LTE and unlimited plans will be supported over its LTE network by mid-June. Support over all its cellular data networks will be enabled by the end of the year.
When Google released its latest version Google+ for Android, video chat didn't work on the AT&T cellular network. Users are given a pop-up screen that tells them to connect to Wi-Fi.
First, AT&T blamed Google for it not being a native Android App. Currently, video chat such as FaceTime only works on AT&T devices with Mobile Share or Tiered plans not grandfathered unlimited plans.
Today, AT&T has come around with clearer statement:
"For video chat apps that come pre-loaded on devices, we currently give all OS and device makers the ability for those apps to work over cellular for our customers who are on Mobile Share or Tiered plans. Apple, Samsung and Blackberry have chosen to enable this for their pre-loaded video chat apps. And by mid-June, we'll have enabled those apps over cellular for our unlimited plan customers who have LTE devices from those three manufacturers.
Throughout the second half of this year, we plan to enable pre-loaded video chat apps over cellular for all our customers, regardless of data plan or device; that work is expected to be complete by year end.
Today, all of our customers can use any mobile video chat app that they download from the Internet, such as Skype."
Previously AT&T blocked iPhone/iPad owners form FaceTime use over its data networks. Last year, AT&T allowed the service for shared and usage plans.
The preloaded apps will be enabled first because there is a greater number of users.