Is Apple Shutting FaceTime Off in the UAE

[Joe Johaneman]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.macworld.com/article/154348/2010/09/facetime_uae.html' target='_blank'>http://www.macworld.com/article/154...cetime_uae.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"At the end of the first day of iPhone 4 officially going on sale in the United Arab Emirates, it seems like the update of iOS to 4.1 is what is disabling FaceTime on iPhones in the country."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1285633140.usr105505.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>Apple has also removed any reference to FaceTime on their iPhone website in the Middle East. &nbsp;Users who don't update to iOS 4.1 apparently still have a working version of FaceTime on their phones. &nbsp;It's fairly obvious that the UAE requested Apple remove the feature, probably for religious reasons, and that Apple complied with local law. &nbsp;Some users in the UAE report that FaceTime was a big reason they bought the iPhone 4 in the first place, but I don't really see how Apple could have dealt with this situation differently. &nbsp;If they want to do business worldwide, they have to comply with local laws. &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[Jason Dunn]

Indeed - all the ire should be directed toward the political leaders and law-makers who forced Apple to do this. Or people should buy imported iPhones and starve out the local sellers who are selling the crippled phones to create upward pressure on the lawmakers. I support Apple on this one!

[Joe Johaneman]

Actually, buying the phone elsewhere won't help. Once you update to 4.1 in the UAE, it'll just break FaceTime. iTunes can be tricked, though, into calling as if it is from a different country. That's probably the best way to upgrade and prevent the loss of FaceTime.