EddieEC
Wait guys, you don't have the toggle? I have it ever since I got it...
samer
iPhones sold in most arab countries don't have the toggle!
samer
It doesn't work.
This package enables FaceTime if (and only if) it is disabled solely due to region restrictions. This will NOT enable FaceTime for any other reason
eliefares
I want to test this out with an MTC line. But I can't find any of those cheap 2$ lines with no $ in them to test out.
mezin
eliefares
^ I think someone tried it and posted at the beginning of the thread. They said it didn't work. Besides, you don't need a hack since MTC is unofficial and FaceTime works on it.
mojo
@ Eliefares
U need to have some $ in your prepaid line for facetime to work since it needs to send a one time silent international SMS to Apple's server in the UK for activation
eliefares
@ Mojo
I have $86
Alfa simply takes away 18 cents everytime i try to get FaceTime to activate and nothing works. It's a problem with alfa.
MinDMaKeR
Guys ... please call alfa support on a daily basis, lets all do this and bombard their heads. Tell them that MTC has it & that there is no reason for them not to support it except that service is always behind.
If you do not want to call at least them a mail & reference this thread to let them see the number of customers complaining.
eliefares
^ I have done so and only received the standard email they send regarding this and when I called, the support person was basically clueless about what's happening.
MinDMaKeR
Too bad, alfa support is shit and most of those who answer the calls barely know what an iPhone is. I think by the end of the day we have to jailbreak our phones to get the service and bypass alfa's stupid service & their lagging technology that is always one step behind MTC. I wish we can transfer our lines from network to network just as in all modern nations.
Raficoo
It ain't just the networks, it's the whole country. take it easy guys.. 2011 ain't that far off(3G) ;)
MinDMaKeR
Today I sent them this email. Guys follow suit. Blow their heads off.
Dear Sir/Madam.
I know this email & this particular request has been sent to you by hundreds of alfa users who have an iPhone 4 and are frustrated by the fact that to this date alfa does not allow/activate "facetime calling" (explained below) for an undisclosed reason. On the other hand, MTC users are enjoying this service from day one & thanking God that they are on MTC's network and not alfa. But too bad that I and many others are stuck with alfa.
Facetime is a service introduced by apple to allow video calling from iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 over wifi. In order that the initiating iPhone contact the other iPhone & request video calling permission, an SMS is sent to Apple's servers triggering another SMS to be sent by Apple to the iPhone being contacted. At alfa, this chain of SMS communication is not being completed or is blocked.
With all due respect to the IT people at alfa and its customer care unit, it really takes little effort from the alfa team to make many of its customers happy. And since all iPhone users on the MTC network are already enjoying "facetime" then there is no reason for alfa not to follow suit and bypass the MINOR hurdles that involve this issue, noting that "facetime" will be a source of revenue to alfa as all facetime calls must be initiated with an SMS and thus every intitation is a revenue to alfa that it is not realizing/billing. Why? BECAUSE THE SERVICE IS NOT THERE. And since "facetime" is over wifi then alfa is losing nothing from "facetime", but only gaining. As a matter of fact, currently alfa is losing money:
1) iPhone users like me are so frustrated. In fact, I am actively searching for a Golden MTC number to migrate without a moment of hesitance. Too bad that there is no other solution and that several of my friends who have contacted alfa through email WEEKS ago regarding the same issue received a response that alfa is looking into the issue & still after months no solution has been found by the responsive IT people or the so called customer care unit, whereas MTC implemented "facetime" months ago & made sure it is active & is actually gaining over frustrated alfa customers. It is always that alfa one step behind: e.g.when MTC activated the credit transfer over prepaid lines, alfa followed suit after months. When MTC had Blackberry, alfa got it way later. And now facetime & with it alfa is months later. Honestly, when will alfa and Orascom make us alfa customers happy. WILL IT EVER HAPPEN. It is very true that two of my friends recently ditched their alfa lines because they have relatives/family in the US and they needed video calling over a telephone to chat with them at any time without turning the computer or laptop. As a result so they ditched their alfa lines and got MTC lines. Trust me, whenever a tourist visits the country, I advice him to buy an MTC postpaid line & I know many of us "alfa frustrated users" have been doing so for months. If you gentlemen/honors only listen to the number of calls / emails / requests you receive daily through customer care to activate this service. BUT TO NO AVAIL. Well keep this work & keep progressing at this pace & KEEP LOSING CUSTOMERS.
2) iPhone users like my brother who is also on alfa, has installed a patch/hack on his iphone that sends the facetime request through the internet to a server and then this server sends an SMS to apple. This method does not always work and the server may delay the sending of the SMS. But the moral of the story is that in here alfa is also losing money, cause it could have sent this SMS itself and billed it.
I really hope my email is elevated to management whether it be customer care, IT, Accounting or Finance, because all these departments are concerned about alfa's future and its customer's frustration for its service that is always lagging one step behind MTC & in turn not realizing revenue and losing customers.
Its sad that I had to send this email to Orascom International and that the fastest way for me to have the service is to shift to another network. This will happen & alfa you know you are losing prime customers, capable customers of purchasing the iPhone 4 & that have monthly bills in the three digit figures.
Regards,
ryeobot
Hi guys. Long time lurker, first time poster.
I just had to register to say that yes I've had enough of the waiting and finally yesterday I switched to MTC. Facetime activated without a problem and now I can use it.
I tweeted my intent to switch with an @mention to alfa and didn't get a reply. I guess they couldn't care less. I'm just glad I'm not that attached to my mobile number like some of you guys.
eliefares
I have no attachment to my number. It sucks honestly. But I have too much credit in it and I think switching lines is a headache.
mezin
It's cute how you guys think they give a shit for -20+ people
yoyo
Hi guys. Usually I am positive in my life. Look if you make a search you can find hundred of people saying that they called their carriers and the hole facetime issue was escalated to Apple who raised it to FaceTime Engineers. So I think it's same issue with alfa. Therefore, we can blame also the latency of FaceTime Engineers. I hope this application will work soon so we can all of us talk to our friends using this application.
akramk
RYebot, I got a prepaid mtc line aside from my own alfa. FaceTime isn't activated!
What firmware of iOS are you currently on? And is
your phone factory unlocked or jailbroken or whatever? Details of your device please?
akramk
Mindmaker, did you get a reply on your email?
alain82
hey all,
same problem with facetime on alfa...
i'm on iphone4 factory unlocked iOS4.1
i've tried everything, my phone has sent more than 20 international text messages!!
i've been doing online researches for hours, and no positive result...
i finally sent a mail to alfa explaining the situation, and they replied that "facetime feature is new and still under testing and currently not working on alfa networks"
what's this shit?! when will our operators become normal! we dont want more than that, just normal is enough!
