FaceTime with Spatial Personas is changing how people communicate. It offers all the benefits of video calling but with a greater sense of presence. Because Spatial Personas feel real, you can enjoy more meaningful conversations and connections. Like a phone call, FaceTime sessions can be spontaneous, interactive, and fun. Spatial Messenger by Beautiful Things revives the spirit of AOL Instant Messenger—rebuilt for visionOS—so you can always see who's online inside the Apple Vision Pro.
You need a spatial-messaging address—also called a screen name—to use Spatial Messenger. Create one the first time you open the app after you Sign In with Apple. With Spatial Messenger you can instantly launch a Spatial FaceTime with any user on your Buddy List—no texting, no threads, just pure presence.
Your Buddy List is central to Spatial Messenger. Add people by entering their screen names and be sure to exchange those names with friends and family beforehand. Tap Add Buddy in the list to add a new person, but always double-check that each screen name is spelled correctly. You can also add someone using their FaceTime ID, but you must have their FaceTime ID to do so.
A FaceTime ID is the Apple ID (email address or phone number) that's linked to your FaceTime account, allowing you to make and receive FaceTime calls. When someone calls you on FaceTime, they'll be using this ID to reach you. You can find or manage your FaceTime ID in your device's settings. When you call a Buddy in the app, it begins a FaceTime call and the email associated with your FaceTime ID is shared.
Spatial Personas are only available on FaceTime. When calling another Apple Vision Pro user, your dynamic Persona appears in their space—and theirs in yours—so you can converse naturally, make eye-contact, and share experiences together. Personas are stored securely on-device and require Optic ID or passcode to access.
When someone on your Buddy List is connected to the internet and signed in to Spatial Messenger, that person appears as Online. Pinch their name once to open the call sheet, then tap Start FaceTime to begin a Spatial Persona call. When the call connects, each participant appears as a lifelike avatar in your space.
Note: when using FaceTime your FaceTimeID is displayed to the other user in your FaceTime call history.
Spatial Messenger must remain open (the window visible) to show you as Online.
Need a quick break? Open Settings ▸ Status and select Away—you remain visible but friends see that you might not answer right away.
Setting your status tells friends when you are willing to talk.
Change status with the pop-up next to your name in the Buddy List or in Settings ▸ Status.
The Buddy List shows which friends are online and whether they are available for FaceTime. If your status is Offline, buddies can send you a notification, but cannot start a call. Buddies shown as Idle haven't opened the app there in a few minutes; Spatial Messenger displays when a person was last Online.
Spatial Messenger sends notifications when someone wants to start a Spatial FaceTime but you are Offline. The app also plays a sound when you come Online, when a new Buddy logs on, or when you start a Spatial FaceTime.
Set your status to Offline or sign out to block all call invitations. Blocked users cannot see your status, and you cannot see or invite them. (Coming Soon)
Your Buddy List is where you see who's online and quickly start a Spatial FaceTime. Add friends by tapping Add Buddy and entering their screen name or FaceTime ID.
The Spatial Directory is a public list of screen names for people who are open to chatting with Spatial Personas on FaceTime. Everyone using Spatial Messenger can browse the Directory, so avoid sharing any information you wish to keep private. You can add or remove your screen name at any time in Settings ▸ Account.
A screen name is your Spatial Messenger address—the name you share so others can add you (for example, alex.buddy). Create or edit yours anytime in Settings ▸ Account.
Open Settings ▸ Account to update your screen name, FaceTime ID, or profile picture.
For additional help, contact support at hello@beautifulthings.xyz.