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AT&T Blocking Video Chats in Google Hangouts

May 16, 2013, 7:25 AM by Eric M. Zeman

AT&T customers who install the new Google Hangouts application on their Android devices cannot use one of the main features: video chats. When they attempt to start a video chat, a message appears prompting them to connect to a Wi-Fi network; the feature won't work on AT&T's cellular network. When reached for comment, AT&T explained that AT&T customers are free to download any third-party video chat app they wish and they'll work fine. Apps that come preloaded, however, must be enabled by the developer for use over AT&T's cellular network. AT&T did not address Google Hangouts directly, but it implied that 1. Google Hangouts qualifies as a "preloaded" app because it replaces the Google Talk app on Android handsets, and 2. Google did not follow the proper protocols required by AT&T in order for the app to function over its cellular network. Google Hangouts for iOS, which qualifies as a third-party download on the iPhone, functions properly over AT&T's cellular network. Google Hangouts for Android works fine on the cellular networks of other carriers. Google has not yet offered a clarification on the matter.

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Comments

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This forum is closed.

tjobrien21

May 17, 2013, 1:22 PM
edited

Sounds like ATT is acting like a bunch of...

douchebags.

sp_5015

May 16, 2013, 8:18 AM

isn't it

against the law to do this? i could be totally wrong, but i thought that providers couldn't discriminate against certain types of data traffic on their networks

Downscripting

sp_5015 said:
against the law to do this? i could be totally wrong, but i thought that providers couldn't discriminate against certain types of data traffic on their networks

No it's not against the law... It all ha...
(continues)

WernerCD

They haven't blocked the iPhone from doing it... hard to argue that they are discriminating against certain things when they allow others to do it.

T Bone

Of course they can block whatever they want, they are one providing you with the service, if you don't like what they offer, find another provider. That's like saying it should be illegal for cable companies to not offer HBO. Hey if they don't want ...
(continues)

...

Jellz

May 16, 2013, 9:18 AM

I think it'll be interesting to see how this turns out.

🤨

Or rather, I'd like to hear what Google has to say.

Haggard

More like than likely nothing because Apple can't do anything about it either.

...

Versed

May 16, 2013, 7:50 PM

There's already a hack for it.

If you have AT&T there's a way to enable it if you're rooted.

http://phandroid.com/2013/05/16/att-blocking-google- ... »

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