iOS 11 May Make FaceTime Audio Default for iPhone Users; May Feature Intelligent, Automatic Low Power Mode

BY Gautam Prabhu

Published 1 May 2017

iOS 11 Featured

A reddit user has provided some interesting details about the iOS 11 features that have been rumored previously.

reddit user cyanhat writes:

You’ll be able to try these new features on iOS 11 (beta comes out in June):

Group FaceTime video calling with up to 5 people.

Peer-to-Peer Apple Pay. Apple is completely revamping the Wallet app (renaming it to Pay) and adding social functionality. There will be a social feed, just like Venmo. The new Pay app will also have an iMessage extension that allows you to send cash via iMessage.

FaceTime Audio is going to become the default calling method for iPhone users. Meaning if you call any iPhone user, it will automatically use FaceTime Audio so that you can enjoy a crisp, high quality calling experience. If you call a non-iOS phone, it will fallback to the older cellular calling technology (the one that is currently standard and sounds terrible).

Intelligent, automatic low power mode. It will study your low power mode habits (how often and when you turn it on) and adapt to that schedule. It will also be location and context based. For example, if you leave your home wifi network and have 20% or less, it will turn on low power mode automatically.

While we haven’t been able to confirm these rumored iOS 11 features, some of the features mentioned by the reddit user corroborate with previous reports.

Back in January, a report claimed that iOS 11 will feature FaceTime Group calling functionality, though at that time the report did not specify that it would be limited to only 5 people. The group calling functionality would be a welcome addition to one of the most underrated features of iOS.

Re/code had also reported last week that Apple has recently held discussions with its partners from the payment industry to introduce its own peer-to-peer mobile payment system, which would be likely called Apple Cash.

It would be quite a brave move if Apple makes FaceTime Audio the default calling method for iPhone users as it will go down too well with carriers.

It will be interesting to see how the intelligent automatic low power mode will work. I find the low power mode very useful as I seem to run out of battery life every day even on my iPhone 7 Plus, so it would be nice if iOS automatically manages it using AI rather than prompting me to do it.

Apple is widely expected to unveil iOS 11, the next major update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch at the WWDC 2017 keynote on June 5. It is also rumored that Siri will gain iCloud integration and contextual learning in iOS 11.  There are also rumors that Apple is working on iPad-specific updates, which is urgently needed.

Besides these rumors, iOS 11 could feature major design changes, and Apple may finally introduce dark mode, which Apple has been testing since iOS 10.

Thanks Sebastian for the tip!