FaceTime in Saudi Arabia mystery solved
The recent FaceTime “banning” in the region can only be described as peculiar. Mobily advertised FaceTime as a feature while in the UAE, Du said it’s unavailable days before the release. So what is going on? What is the real reason for banning FaceTime in the Middle East.
Let’s have a look at this file which can be found within iPhone 4 devices running iOS 4.1. The file should be located at:
/System/Library/RegionFeatures.txt or /System/Library/Lockdown/RegionFeatures.txt
Here is a screenshot of these files taken by Asim, you will need to jailbreak the iPhone to find the file via SSH:
The file displays features or limitations based on region. First column is the model number letters (the last 1 or 2 characters in a model number), I am not sure what is the second column and the third column includes the “features“.
Let’s take an example: “J” is the Japanese iPhone, the model numbers should be MC605J and MC603J. There are 2 region features: “SHUTTER(0×08)” and “TVNTSC(0×10)”. The first is most likely forcing the iPhone to make a shutter sound when taking photos which is required by law in Japan. The second sets the TV signal to NTSC.
Another example, “LL” is the United States, they also use NTSC so you notice “TVNTSC(0×10)” near the name.
The weird one is Switzerland’s code “CH” **CH** is China (thanks for the comments) it says no wifi “NOWIFI(0×20)” and “CNBRICK(0×40)”.
Other codes from the file: “GOOGLE(0×02)”, which is probably some kind of Google limitation. “VOLUME(0×04)”, most likely a limit on the volume level, another law in some countries.
And finally we have the code that matters to us: “NOVOIP(0×80)” as in no Voice over IP and in this case, most likely, FaceTime. It is located in front of 2 model number codes: “AE” (most likely Arab Emirates?) and “AB” (most like Arab?). With the iPhone 3GS the UAE/Saudi Arabia model iPhones had AB not AE.
This only proves that the FaceTime limitation is tied to the model number of the iPhone and not the Carrier Settings.
According to this document at brighthub titled “Countries that Block VOIP”: VOIP services are banned in following countries: United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Syria. Saudi Arabia and Tunisia are the only Middle Eastern countries with an iPhone 4 carrier that did not ban VOIP. However Tunisia’s iPhone 4 page lists FaceTime as a feature but while the Saudi Arabian page does not.
Here’s what I think: It is well known that the Saudi Arabian carrier, Mobily, is affiliated with UAE’s Etisalat. Etisalat even announced the Saudi Arabia iPhone 3G release, something they stopped doing with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. It’s almost as if Apple made a deal with both Etisalat and Mobily instead of making independent deals. Before Apple released the iPhone 4 in the region someone noticed UAE’s laws regarding VOIP services and disabled VOIP in iOS 4.1 and updated the iPhone 4 websites. Finally, Du knew about the lack of FaceTime before they released the iPhone while Mobily only noticed one week later.
I believe that the disabling of FaceTime in Saudi Arabia was a mistake that was committed by Apple, Mobily and Etisalat. Etisalat didn’t clarify the difference between the 2 countries’ regulations regarding VOIP, Mobily didn’t notify Apple of Saudi Arabia’s regulations and Apple never checked. As for the other countries, they have their own anti-VOIP rules and they need to address it first.
What’s the next step? If Apple enabled FaceTime on Mobily’s iPhones that means all units with the model numbers MC605AE and MC603AE will have FaceTime enabled, including UAE’s and Qatar’s, a solution that they won’t allow. The only way to get FaceTime back is to release new iPhone 4 units with new model numbers assigned to Saudi Arabia. That means if people want FaceTime they have to return their AE iPhones. I see no other way.
Small update: If you live in Tunisia and bought an iPhone 4 from Orange please reply with the model number of your device. Thank you.
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About The Author
Ameer
What if you edited this file and remove the limitation line of AE model?
Khaled A.
that requires a jailbreak
Ameer
cool lets jailbreak
a new jailbreak just released today for all IOS devices with any version to 4.1
emad the dude
i think it is possible to edit the file to remove the limitation.
please check the tutorial below on how they disabled the camera shutter sound from japanese iphones.
http://xsellize.com/topic/55745-tutorial-iphone-in-japan-disable-the-forced-camera-sounds/
Khaled A.
yeah, it’s possible.
Ameer
again,
With the japanese issue that has been solved by the included tutorial, does the iphone need to be jailbroken ?
Khaled A.
guess someone needs to try it
Ahmad
I tried it…didn’t work..and yes it requires jailbreaking
OT
So based on that, hypothetically, 2 iPhone 4′s bought from Europe can use Facetime in Saudi? Or is there also something altered in the carrier network the phone is connected to?
Khaled A.
yes, FaceTime limitation is forced by the model number not the Carrier Settings
Ameer
Finally the truth revealed
I used to say and mention, Mobily has nothing to do with this, its a software restrictions from apple, its not a press of a button to enable or disable face time or any other feature
Khaled A.
Mobily caused this problem as well. They should have known the difference between Saudi Arabia and UAE regarding VOIP and alerted Apple instead of relying on Etisalat
Ameer
thats right
Eric
Etisalat, Mobily and Apple you ALL SUCK!!
عبدالرحمن حجار
makes sense.
thanks guys
Ismail
Supreme Council for Information and Communications Technology (ictQATAR) clarifies that VOIP services is NOT prohibited for personal use. except selling it without licence which is currently restricted to Qtel and Vodafone Qatar.
http://www.ict.gov.qa/output/page781.asp
Ameer
posted link broken here is the working one:
http://www.ict.gov.qa/output/page781.asp
Khaled A.
Well there are issues apparently and if that’s true then Qatar got sttuck with Saudi
Ismail
I blame Apple for what is happening now. they should’ve known better..
Khaled A.
yes, I blame Apple as well as the 2 carriers. Apple needs to improve their regional presence.
Here’s a thought, why did Du know about the lack of FaceTime while Mobily didn’t?
Paterson
Then you should sue Mobily and Apple for that matter!!!!
Hussain A
Did you try changing the file now that the jailbreak is out?!! … if it works great, and if it doesn’t … i guess i’ll buy my iphone from Jarir
Asim
I believe there is one more solution for apple. They can put the voip limitions on the carrier settings instead of the system settings. That way the AE models will have FaceTime when used with carriers from other regions were voip is allowed. But for that a major update has to be implemented. Hopefully if mobily can pressure apple soon enough may be we can expect some solution till the 4.2 release. Or else. May be apple can recall all these mobiles for a replacement. Which is not a bad solution for apple when their company reputation is stake.
Asim
Is mobily taking note or they don’t care. Anyone Any coments?
Ahmad
they don’t care…and even if they do, Apple won’t because this will enable FT in UAE & SA at the same time
Lil Hayah
“NOWIFI” and “CNBRICK” should be CH, that represents China… not Switzerland
Khaled A.
Thanks, I guess Apple didn’t use the standard ISO letters for all countries
Sameer
I am glad I purchased from Jarir.
Ali
I have a question
The iphone sold in Jarir, which has the face time feature, is it officially unlocked?!
Faisal
Yep
Jad
Does anyone knows if I bought an iPhone 4 from Singapore if it has an Arabic keyboard or no ?? Any problems with Facetime ? Thanks
Ayman
dude whatever the country is you will find Arabic it is the same software worldwide.
and for Singapore thing I believe that Jarir is bringing them form there and so far ppl satisfied with FT
s.y
hhhmmmm…. any news from STC ????
Ahamad Izzard
we have to do something for this with the help of saudimac. lets make a petition or else to apple
Belal
hi pplz
im waitting until that face time shit !! is over
i read lot off blogs on iphone 4 problems and i just plane to buy nokia n8 but still its an option
i dont no what the hell is going on !!!
Resty
Hi, just to correct this line “First row is the model number letters”, it’s actually column. BTW it’s a great post! interesting!
Khaled A.
thanks, fixed
Ibrahim Ramadah
hi khaled
i have the new ipod touch from ABM, FaceTime is working fine ! with firmware 4.1
the part number is MC540FD
you can see the details in my website
ALI
If this true, then STC’s iPhones should have FaceTime enabled since they will be using different models other the ones for AE, isn’t it?
Ahmad
*UPDATE*
This file is NOT the reason. If you edit it you get no good and it’s also there on a mobily 4.0.2 iPhone with working FT
mehrdad
so is there anyway to get facetime in uae? if yes please link me
iz
I brought a iphone 4 from dubai, i cut the regular sim of STC and inserted, the phone doesn’t read the sim and No SIM message appears, I tried the same with a Mobily sim yet no sucess.
Can any one advise me what might be the issue, is the phone defective? or else does it required to be unlocked / jailbreak etc.
Thanks
Ryan
why like that
well im OFW working here in saudi arabia. is there anyway that i can activate that facetime when im came back to the philippines?
shoma5ar
hey guyz y dont u
checkout jailbreak apps – FaceTime Hacktivator or MiddleWhat.
Both the hacks available on the Cydia App Store will enable FaceTime in unsupported countries like UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia
Haytham Said
The stupid thing is that ipad 2 with AE model number bought from Extra (KSA) dosen’t have face time either .. so frustrating
Haytham
The stupid thing is that ipad 2 with AE model number bought from Extra (KSA) dosen’t have face time either even if it’s updated to IOS 5.0.1 fom egypt with a vodafone Data sim and as usual vodafone knows nothing .. so frustrating
Haytham
The stupid thing is that ipad 2 3g with AE model number bought from Extra (KSA) dosen’t have face time either even if it’s updated to IOS 5.0.1 fom egypt with a vodafone Data sim and as usual vodafone knows nothing .. so frustrating while forums said that vodafone allowed it and iphone users started to recieve carrier updates and facetime suddenly appeard but on ipad 2 smach ur head into a concrete wall
Haytham
Sorry For Repeated posts .. i just recieve error each time i submit ..thnkx
Abu Ahmad
I would like to sue Apple, there is no restriction here in Saudi, even cheap Nokia have video calling feature, then why i get less features while paying same expensive price like the rest of the world? If Apple have any respect for the Saudi customers they should recall this garbage they selling to us here is Saudi and replace it with full working services.
Hayden Armani
So I guess no Facetime for iphones here in saudi then? What about those who will be going back to their respective countries, will Facetime be available once we get back to our country? Say for example in the Philippines? This is such a disappointment caused by Apple. They should have reviewed everything before making the modifications on the phone.
Sunny
Md370AE – I bought the device in UAE, I am not using any sim, just the wifi. Surprisingly no Face time available on the new iPad. What’s the solution, can be fixed any way. Any one succeeded to fix?
Ayman Abutaleb
In qatar we have 2 service providers Qtel & vodafone when you insert vodafone sim, facetime is actve and work fine otherwise when you insert Qtel sim facetime is disable and not appear in sitting or restrictions menu
http://postimage.org/image/5tcep19mj/
Ayman Abutaleb
Device Model : MD235AE