By Thomas Gryta AT&T Inc. (T) will require subscribers to sign up for its soon-to-be-available data-sharing plans if they want to use Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) FaceTime video-calling feature over its cellular network. The application has been available for use over Wi-Fi connections, something that will continue for all AT&T subscribers, but the latest version of Apple's operating system will allow for use over cellular networks. There has been speculation that AT&T would place a roadblock to the data-intensive application after software developers using a prerelease version of iOS 6 restricted its use. The software will be released in the fall, Apple has said. "AT&T will offer FaceTime over cellular as an added benefit of our new Mobile Share data plans," spokesman Mark Siegel said in a statement. Last month, AT&T unveiled the long-awaited details of its new wireless data plans that will launch Thursday. The plans allow customers to share data among multiple users and devices, and continues the trend of shifting the focus away from voice minutes and texts, once the basis for most wireless bills. Rival Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD VOD.LN), has launched similar plans. AT&T has highlighted that its plans offer more choices to consumers, including no requirements for new customers to adopt a shared-data plan. AT&T, once the exclusive carrier of the iPhone, has restricted access to services on the iPhone in the past. It previously blocked users from tethering other devices to the iPhone because of fears about the amount of data that would be consumed. The feature was available on the phone in 2009, but AT&T only made it available for an extra fee in 2010 when it stopped offering unlimited data to new customers. FaceTime uses a camera on the iPhone to connect with others on their phones, iPads or Mac computers. The data consumption from FaceTime on a cellular network could be significant for regular users as the next-generation iPhone is expected to operate on 4G networks using LTE, or Long Term Evolution, technology. --Ian Sherr contributed to this article. Write to Thomas Gryta at thomas.gryta@dowjones.com Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
