FCC releases Google’s letter regarding the supposed rejection of its Google Voice app
After Apple rejected the Google Voice app for the iPhone (or withheld the app’s release for further review, according to Apple), the Internet erupted with anger. Some folks even went as far as ditching their iPhones and moving to Android or other devices, platforms and carriers. While a move like that may have been a little drastic, we’ve all been waiting impatiently as the FCC continues to review the case in order to determine if anything was awry. In this latest addition to the soap opera, the FCC has released a previously confidential letter from Google explaining the company’s position. In a nutshell: Google claims Apple was concerned that the dialer in Google Voice would somehow replace iPhone’s native dialer. Apple also allegedly made it clear that it did not want to confuse its customers, which could be nice or extremely insulting depending on how you look at it. We’re going with the latter. Shortly after the Internet exploded in response to this new Google letter, Apple issued a rare, albeit brief, public statement: “We do not agree with all of the statements made by Google in their FCC letter. Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application and we continue to discuss it with Google.”
[Via Ars Technica]
Read (PDF)
What did you expect, Apple to say “Yes, we lied to the FCC”?
“Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application and we continue to discuss it with Google.”
The patient’s not dead, he just stopped breathing 4 months ago.
Apple sucks balls. They are lame. Blackberry FTW
Ok Apple Fanboys….. time to defend Apple again and again and again.
apple lied, but deal. The google app is good & it will show. Many people will download it in their iphones hell, might even swich to android!
I still think it was At&t and not Apple. Yes, I know the iphone sells on carriers throughout the world besides At&t, but At&t probably has the highest subscriber rate of iphones so I’m sure what they want has plenty of pull on Apple… at the moment.
Well we knew that was coming. Do what you will Apple, but once At&T gets Android I see a lot of people going that route.
I completely agree with Apple on this. It would have been almost impossible for an iPhone user to wrap his head around changes made by Google Voice app to the native dialer.
GV Dialer *does not* change the stock dialer, it just *LOOKS LIKE* the dialer.
StevenGlansburg is a douche
if Apple continues to do things like that, especially with competition getting stronger they will loose a big market. I own an iphone so as many of my friends and I like using it but if they continue with crap like that and block good programs on my own phone that I PAID for and paying for it every month, I would absolutely have no problem moving away from apple to something else, so apple better not to push away the costumers for some silly made up reason, I’m sure many people would agree with me
So we are to now believe that Google sent the FCC a letter and just made up the reason Apple denied Google Voice? Come on Apple, surely you don’t think we’re this stupid? Google isn’t going to lie, on company letterhead, in writing no less, to the FCC.
@StevenGlansburg ATT “probably” has the largest subscriber rate of iphones? Um yes, they do.
Ok, here’s my take on this issue: It may all have to do with some of GV’s code which conflicts with Apple’s baseband code.
When installed in an iPhone, it probably “opens” some holes in the phone’s baseband, or some other part of the firmware, that could be exploited to permanently unlock the device and deny Apple the ability to close it back, probably even forever.
That wasn’t discovered by Apple’s whiz kidz until after the app was officially approved. It also seems strange that Google’s CEO quit Apple’s Board of Directors, around the same time all that stuff was going on behind closed doors.
I’m sure Apple would like to have such a popular, money making, app in their phone, but with a rewritten code that would close the holes. That’s what Apple means by the statement that “they continue discussions with Google” on the issue.
There are things in the corporate world, that the rest of us don’t need to know. That type of situation must stay “inside” the corporate’s top tier. It’s like what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas type of thingy.
^ Could be, but why doesn’t Apple just SAY that? Why open yourself to further criticism AND why wouldn’t Google just say, “Apple ID’d a security issue and we’re working to fix it”. No, Apple just rejected the whole thing. At&t doesn’t want people bypassing using their minutes by using GV via wi-fi. I’m even surprised there’s a Skype app for iPhone to be honest.
And as far as ‘confusing’ the dialers… yeah, and? What does it matter to the user? “Oh crap, I meant to call that number via my At&t line, not Google Voice…” and then? What? The apopcalypse comes and the world ends? The call is suddenly worthless or it still won’t go through? No. Apple/At&t only care about ‘confused consumers’ when ‘confused consumers’ = Potential loss of revenue. If the ‘confusion’ worked the OTHER way, Apple wouldn’t say a word.
It’s not Apple bashing by the way. Switch out any of those companies in the same situation and I’d still come to the same conclusion.
@ ataraxis6 : hahaha, so true! apple users can click and double-click, that’s about it. i’ve consistently observed intelligent inquisitive people who use apple computers who don’t know the first thing about how a computer works.
@ namelesstwo : if what you’re saying is true, apple could have used corporate-speak and said exactly what you did…in fact, it would have been a boon to apple to advertise how ‘dangerous’ the code for GV is. but they didn’t. instead, by all measures of accuracy, they appear to have lied (and i might add, not the first or second time in just a couple months). lame-O
…I’d just look for ways to reduce current application support on the iPhone. How would Apple feel if Google were less inclined from here on out to support Google maps, Youtube, etch…natively on their device
You know what would make this easy and end the dispute on all sides?
JUST. APPROVE. THE. FUCKING. APPLICATION.
Plain and simple, it’d end all bickering on both sides.
@ glyco : Well, it’s like I said, those things are really too dangerous to filter out to the general public, not even through corporatese mumbo jumbo.
I believe the app is availble through Cydia, so I’m sure that some of the hack-gods may suspect the same thing and are already looking into that possibility.
As to Apple lying, doesn’t every corporation?
So truth be told how much ‘harmony’ was there really that Schmidt had between Google and Apple… a few promises here and there, business deals in parking lots…
No sooner he leave than the shoit start’s a flappin around the board room…
Just hilarious. I cannot believe people assume that the Apple is “The Best Phone” ever made. I sell phones and customers come, claiming this as the “all known truth”. If Google Voice charged, maybe it wouldn’t make such “news”, but its not, its awesome and free….
I think I’ll post this at work, “Apple Lies” as seen on BGR.
A big American corporation not telling the whole truth ? What is the world comming to
sorry are we talking about Apple or Google here ?