Cripple Facetime and Skype 'Cuz Vid-Chatting Makes Me Anxious

February 25, 2013 7:06 PM

I have an extreme aversion to video chatting. I'm not looking to AskMeFi to fix that. I'm just looking for help in: 1. setting my iPhone 4 so I'm not invitable to FaceTime (it's too easy to accidentally hit the "accept/answer" button), optimally while maintaining the ability to invite others (in case of some sort of emergency need), and 2. figuring out how to make audio-only Skype calls (incoming and outgoing) using my iPhone's SKype or Skype-WI-FI app.

Clarification on #2 - I call lots of foreign countries, so I don't want to call via phone-via-Skype (hope that's clear!).

posted by Quisp Lover to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

Best answer: I don't know about Skype, but it's easy to disable Facetime on an iPhone.
posted by Andrhia at 7:17 PM on February 25, 2013

Best answer: (If you actually want to use it you can just as easily re-enable it at any moment.)
posted by Andrhia at 7:18 PM on February 25, 2013

Best answer: Audio-only Skype calls are easy! In the Skype app, just tap the contact and then tap "Voice Call." Even if the recipient clicks "Answer with Video," it just results in you seeing them — they still won't be able to see you.
posted by RogerB at 7:23 PM on February 25, 2013

Response by poster: Wow. If you guys are right, I'm fixed right there! This may be an AskMeFi record! Thanks!
posted by Quisp Lover at 7:29 PM on February 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Perfect!

I can both call out and receive on Skype via audio only. Even if someone calls with video, I can opt for audio only on my end.
posted by Quisp Lover at 8:51 PM on February 25, 2013

Best answer: If you want to feel fully secure about this, a small removable sticker over the you-facing camera might be an easy lo-fi solution.
posted by flabdablet at 5:31 AM on February 26, 2013 [2 favorites]