X

Do AT&T's FaceTime limits break FCC rules?

AT&T is accused of data plan discrimination with FaceTime access, NASA reveals the next mission to Mars, and humans honor their favorite robots.

Bridget Carey Principal Video Producer
Bridget Carey is an award-winning reporter who helps you level-up your life -- while having a good time geeking out. Her exclusive CNET videos get you behind the scenes as she covers new trends, experiences and quirky gadgets. Her weekly video show, "One More Thing," explores what's new in the world of Apple and what's to come. She started as a reporter at The Miami Herald with syndicated newspaper columns for product reviews and social media advice. Now she's a mom who also stays on top of toy industry trends and robots. (Kids love robots.)
Expertise Consumer technology, Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, social media, mobile, robots, future tech, immersive technology, toys, culture Credentials
  • Bridget has spent over 18 years as a consumer tech reporter, hosting daily tech news shows and writing syndicated newspaper columns. She's often a guest on national radio and television stations, including ABC, CBS, CNBC and NBC.
See full bio
Bridget Carey
2 min read

Tuesday's tech news roundup honors our future robot overlords:

Watch this: Do AT&T FaceTime limits break FCC rules?

AT&T is being accused of data-plan discrimination and breaking FCC rules regarding new iPhone FaceTime options. AT&T recently announced that iPhone customers could use FaceTime video chat service over a cellular network if they have the new shared data plan. (Previously, FaceTime was limited to Wi-Fi.) But several groups have spoken out about the limit and questioned if it follows FCC guidelines. AT&T responded saying it does not believe this breaks any FCC rules, since FaceTime was offered to all customers over Wi-Fi and this simply expands availability of the service to those with a share data plan.

The Curiosity Mars rover is still warming up, but NASA already is talking about the next mission to Mars in 2016. By then, NASA wants to send a lander to study whether Mars has a solid or liquid cord and if the red planet has tectonic plates.

Anyone who bought a new Windows PC after June 2nd can now register online for a $15 upgrade to Windows 8. The new operating system will be released October 26, and the discounted upgrade is good for PCs bought now until January 31, 2013. For anyone who didn't just buy a new PC, there will be a limited time discounted upgrade for $40.

More AT&T news about data share plans. In order to put a focus on the new plan, AT&T will no longer subsidize the cost of a tablet with a two-year contract. Verizon also stopped doing that in June.

For the first time, Carnegie Mellon University is allowing humans to elect who should be inducted to its Robot Hall of Fame. The award has been given to real and fictional robots, like the Roomba and C-3PO. But this year, you decide if Wall-E, Rosie or Johnny 5 will be honored with as a top bot in entertainment.

And perhaps we'll see the Miimo by Honda honored in the future. This lawn-nibbling robot will be available in Europe next year.

Subscribe: iTunes (HD) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360)

RSS (HD) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)