14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is, indeed, on track to sell tens of millions of devices that are FaceTime-capable, a report claims, pointing out to rumors that the Cupertino, California company may extend the video chatting function to Macs.
A Fortune report digs up a statement by CEO Steve Jobs according to which Apple is on track to sell “tens of millions” of gadgets capable of handling FaceTime by year’s end.
FaceTime is a standard introduced with the launch of the iPhone 4, which allows owners of the smartphone to place and receive video calls over Wi-Fi.
The functionality has been extended to Apple’s line of portable media players, the iPod touch being the first to incorporate dual cameras and support for the video chatting function.
Add to the mix rumors of Macs getting FaceTime compatibility through the iChat instant messaging application, and Apple might just ship close to 50 million FaceTime-supported devices, Fortune’s Philip Elmer-DeWitt concludes.
The report in question includes an estimate from the renowned Piper Jaffray analyst, Gene Munster, who believes Apple is on track to ship over 10 million units of the new, FaceTime-capable iPod touch in the quarter that starts Sept. 26.
The Fortune author attributes more credence to rumors of Apple integrating FaceTime with Macs, rather than with a new version of the iPad rumored to launch by the end of 2010.
Indeed, from Apple’s range of portable solutions, the iPad seems the most likely candidate to be next in line for FaceTime support, yet few trust Apple is capable of shipping the new iPad before 2011.
However, if we are to to look at Apple’s entire range of offerings, one product particularly stands out because it already boasts a front-facing camera just waiting to do some FaceTime - the Macintosh.