Apple Brings Its AirPlay Service to FaceTime in iOS 5 Beta

iPhone and iPad maker Apple Inc has released the iOS 5 Beta 3 for developers which integrates its AirPlay streaming service with its video calling application FaceTime.

The new feature will let users stream their video chats to wide-screen televisions that will use the device’s camera. AirPlay aims at allowing iOS users to stream content to connected televisions.

Previously, jailbreakers enabled FaceTime video calling over 3G in iPhone 4 with a cydia app called My3G that allowed the user to run WiFi apps over 3G. The new feature for iOS 5, however, comes directly from the developers. FaceTime lets iOS users make free video calls over WiFi via the front facing camera on the iPhone 4, iPod Touch and iPad.

AirPlay for FaceTime, apart from streaming the video chat on a TV, can also be used to share video call for a group of people. The feature has only been introduced in the beta version for the time being. Apple has not confirmed if the feature will also be able on the public version of the operating system, according to an ITProPortal report.

Apple is expected to launch its anticipated iOS 5 running iPhone 5 on September but new rumors state that the smartphone will hit the market on August 16.