What Happened to Native Video Calling? Why the iPhone 16 Pro Max Can’t Do What a Nokia N95 Could

Introduction

Back in the mid-2000s, phones like the 诺基亚 N95 could make video calls without apps—just using the mobile network. Today, even with 5G and powerful devices like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, native video calling is gone. Why? The answer lies in how networks have evolved from circuit switching to packet switching.

1. Circuit Switching: How 3G Video Calls Worked

Older networks, like 2G and 3G, used a system called circuit switching for voice and video calls. Here’s how it worked:

• When you made a call, the network reserved a dedicated path (circuit) between you and the other person for the entire call.
• In 3G networks (UMTS), this applied to video calls too. The call ran on a separate 64 kbps video stream alongside voice, without needing an internet connection.
• This meant you could make video calls anywhere with 3G coverage, without relying on data or Wi-Fi.

Phones like the Nokia N95 had a front camera specifically for 3G video calls, and carriers charged for video calls just like voice minutes.

2. Packet Switching: The 4G and 5G Shift

With 4G (LTE) and 5G, networks moved to packet switching, which is how the internet works:

• Instead of reserving a dedicated line, data is broken into packets and sent dynamically over the network.
• Voice calls switched to VoLTE (Voice over LTE) and VoNR (Voice over 5G NR), which transmit voice as data packets.
• However, video calling was left to apps like FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, etc., rather than being a built-in carrier feature.

This shift made networks more efficient, but it also meant that:

?? Calls became higher quality (HD voice, better stability).

?? The same network could handle more users at once.

? Native video calling disappeared—you now need apps and internet/data.

3. Why the iPhone 16 Pro Max Can’t Make 3G-Style Video Calls

Despite its powerful 5G modem and AI-powered camera system, the iPhone 16 Pro Max doesn’t support native video calling like the Nokia N95. Why?

1. No Circuit-Switched Calling – The iPhone only supports packet-switched communication (VoLTE, VoNR), meaning all video calls must go through apps and mobile data.
2. 3G Networks Are Being Shut Down – Even if 苹果 wanted to bring it back, most carriers have already turned off 3G, making circuit-switched video calling obsolete.
3. The World Moved to Apps – Services like FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Google Meet offer better video quality and cross-platform support, making built-in carrier video calls unnecessary.

4. Did We Lose Something Valuable?

While modern video calling apps are far superior in quality and features, 3G video calls had a unique advantage:

• They worked anywhere with 3G coverage—no need for a data plan.
• They were simpler—no app installations or account sign-ups.
• They were tightly integrated into the phone dialer.

In a way, today’s mobile networks are more advanced but also more dependent on the internet. The iPhone 16 Pro Max may have 5G and AI-powered cameras, but ironically, it can’t make a simple, app-free video call like a Nokia N95 once could.

Conclusion

The death of circuit-switched video calling shows how mobile technology has evolved. While 4G and 5G have made networks faster and more efficient, they also marked the end of a time when phones had built-in video calling with no apps or data required.

Would you bring back native video calling, or are apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp good enough? Let’s discuss in the comments!