FaceTime is coming to Windows and Android, but will you use it?

Facetime Icon Iphone X Hero
Facetime Icon Iphone X Hero (Image credit: Windows Central)

Apple held its annual WWDC conference this week, and many Windows fans and users looked across the aisle at Microsoft's competitor. While the biggest pieces of news are iOS 15, iPadOS15, and macOS Monterey, there were several other announcements from Apple. The one that affects Windows users the most is the fact that FaceTime will no longer be exclusive to Apple hardware.

After years of being behind Apple's walled garden, FaceTime will make its way to Windows and Android through the web. Some features will remain exclusive to iPads, iPhones, and Macs, but the ability to use FaceTime on hardware from a non-Apple company at all is the headline.

While FaceTime is popular in the United States, it's not nearly as much of a factor in other countries. In many areas where Android reigns supreme on the mobile side of things, FaceTime isn't that big of a deal.

FaceTime also has more competition than ever from the likes of Zoom, WhatsApp, and Microsoft Teams, though the latter is used more for work than chatting with friends and family.

Some around the web asked why anyone would use an exclusive communication platform like FaceTime when Zoom or WhatsApp are available on every major platform.

Our question for you this week is, do you care about FaceTime coming to Windows and Android through the web? Please let us know in the poll above and share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.