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FCC Investigating Apple's Rejection of Google Voice App

Article Comments  85  

Jul 31, 2009, 6:53 PM   by Rich Brome

The FCC has formally requested information from Apple, AT&T and Google concerning Apple's rejection of a Google Voice app for the iPhone. Google Voice offers advanced call management.

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terryjohnson16

Aug 2, 2009, 9:50 PM

Put your feet in Google's shoes for a minute

If you were Google, and wanted to release an app, and know it might have a chance of competing, due to the fact that your name is well known. Then go to Apple to have it reviewed for approval on a popular app store, but get an indirect rejection, because their partner says "um..please reject that apps because it competes with our services, in x shape and form".

Wouldn't you want to know why, and complain, since it isn't hurting either company to have the app available?

You guys need to stop defending Apple and AT&T. They know they are in the wrong in one shape or another. Apple for bending to AT&T. AT&T for being slick and anti-competitive.

I would like to read about why the Google Voice apps were rejected by Apple, and what compa...
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This is how this will all play out:

Apple and ATT will not provide a reason for rejection.
They will then be forced to allow the service because they are incapable of banning it.
ATT sends a letter out to all their users which either cuts their d...
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netboy

Jul 31, 2009, 8:56 PM

it's about being fair!

i hate the iphone too, it' sucks!
but some people like it, and they like google voice too, but apple is blocking them from using it. does this seen fair to (you) consumers?

if microsoft is blocking Firebox or Opera from running on windows 7. does this seen fair to you? it' my computer, i should able to run whatever i want! it' my iphone, i should able to run whatever i want! yes, that include google voice!

here is my complain to SEC
if you have 25,000$ in your stock account, you able to daytrades as many times as you wish.
but if you poor, and have less than 25,000$ in account, you only allow to daytrades 3 times in a 5 days period. does this seen fair to you?
it' my freaking money, why am i not allow to daytrades more than 3...
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Half of your post was a rant the you want goverment control 🤨 the other half is a rant you dont. 😕 So do you want goverment control or not?
yes its fair. they are making less off people with less money. it costs them for you to trade so if they are making less they have to limit how much overhead they have on that customer or they will lose money. you are right though it is your money ...
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i attempted that day trade scheme some time ago and ran into the 25K min. It is a pain in the tail. But ppl with that kind of money are hopefully more educated on stocks, or can take the loss. It unfortunately (for better or worse) benefits the insti...
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...
I only have about $5000 with Ameritrade, but I can trade more than 3 times per day.
WiWavelength

Aug 1, 2009, 4:40 PM

A basic rundown...

AT&T (nee SBC) has used its monopolistic wireline profits to buy up tremendous wireless market share -- including control of much regulated public spectrum. AT&T has parlayed the clout of its wireless market share into a monopolistic contract for a wireless device that has become the face of the industry. AT&T has now rejected a potentially popular VoIP data application for this exceedingly widespread device. Why?

At this point, no one (ostensibly outside of AT&T &/or Apple) knows for certain. And that uncertainty warrants clarification. If AT&T thinks that its cumulative behavior does not raise disturbing anti competitive behavior or net neutrality concerns, then AT&T has opportunity to demonstrate that its actions serve the public ...
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Here's part of why I think it's kind of dumb that the FCC is jumping in:

Is anyone being FORCED to use an iPhone? No.

It'd be different if everyone on AT&T were using an iPhone. But isn't this a product that Apple produced? And isn't the servic...
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captainplooky

Aug 3, 2009, 3:45 PM

Why The FCC Wants To Smash Open The iPhone

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article ... »

A clear and concise article outlining the reasoning behind the FCC's interest in Apple's decision - as opposed to the knee jerk anti-government reactions found here.
Interesting article, I'm with another carrier anyway but I'd rather be able to use Skype (which is on my wired home computer) with my smartphone to talk to relatives overseas even if I'm out of the house.
Iknownothing

Aug 3, 2009, 4:46 PM

Imagine...

Everyone remember about then years ago when microsoft got busted for anti-trust violations. It was because they used their omnipresent operating system to promote their internet browser. Which was damaging to the likes of netscape et al. Despite the fact that the operating system allowed netscape.

Now imagine that the operating system did not allow netscape at all. Imagine further that microsoft specifically made it so that the operating system would now allow netscape because netscape was working on its own operating system to compete with windows.

The fcc or whatever agency has an obligation to investigate this. We seem to confuse things that are good for "a" business with things that are good for "business at large" or compet...
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Rich Brome

Jul 31, 2009, 8:26 PM

just questions

At this point, the FCC is just asking a lot of questions.

If you read the actual letters, (we linked to them,) they are questions that really do need to be asked by someone. The FCC is one of the few entities with the power to demand answers, so everyone should be glad that they are doing this.

It's a tricky new area of wireless technology. The FCC just wants to make sure no one is abusing their power. The FCC has very noble (IMO) mandates to encourage competition and new technology. They do this, in part, by preventing monopolistic behavior.

If Google has innovative new technology, and AT&T and/or Apple are abusing their power to keep it from benefiting the public, that's something that should be looked into.

But again, these ar...
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Anyone Yet! Yet! there in lies the problem.
...
Everyone should read all three letters and understand that what happens out of this from these three companies will shape what happens down the line for years to come. Verizon, WinMo, RIM, and every software developer/hardware manufacturer and networ...
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anubus32

Aug 1, 2009, 6:47 PM

If you dont like it....

If you make a purchase, lets say a cell phone, most people - and I do stress the word "most", simply take what they are given and go on their mary vanilla existence. Others of us on the other hand, see some form of opposition, and do something about it.

My point is this - If you want google voice on your iPhone, port it in and redistribute it to others. If you don't want it, then you more than likely don't care and are not reading this anyways..

The FCC's recent evolvement(s) into cell phone carriers is legitimate, but this really doesn't warrant any form of involvement of any agency.

This insistence that Apple and Google interact in this manner equates to forcing Microsoft to rewrite its Internet Explorer web browser, to run on a...
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agreed FFC needs to go elsewhere and find something else to impose on.

if the people at apple dont want an app on their phone they shouldnt be forced to have it. i mean they invented it right? or did the government do that too...
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ecycled

Jul 31, 2009, 7:36 PM

no vote

Watch, the FCC is going to grow in power and it doesn't have elected officials so soon we will be at the discretion of them. Electronics will have to be compatible with everything or else. Then I'm going to invent a file format so the electronics makers will have to put it on their devices and I get a royalty or the FCC will fine them and I can sue. Its a win win for me.

Plus, screw the iphone if it doesn't want to approve an app. who cares, google does android, microsoft hates apple,RIM uses what works for business consumers in mind, symbian is the world leader. There are plenty willing to line up and get this app. Who cares about one tight som-b'tch not willing to let them in. There are other electronic fish in the manufactoring sea....
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exactly,

from my perspective, you pay at&t to use 1 phone number for calls and network connectivity, with Google voice you will have 2 numbers and only be paying to use 1 of them. at&t loses out on a huge portion of revue because Google uses its s...
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Simply put to much power for unelected officials.
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ccanady

Jul 31, 2009, 11:23 PM

Some of You do not make any sense

Some of you keep saying how at&t would lose millions but if you think about it, the app is available for all blackberry's to download. There are more blackberrys then there are iphones out there so how would allowing one app for one phone going to hurt them when its already available for other phones on their network?
I think you might be a little of on your assertion: By the 2nd quarter Apple has sold a total of 37 million units of both the iPod touch and iPhone's combined.

http://www.macworld.com/article/140165/2009/04/ipodt ... »

BlackBerry Storm S...
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You know what you make a good point about the blackberrys alowing this app. So why is AT&T taking heat over this?
...
Personally I think there is way, way too much control involved with the Iphone. I don't like AT&T or Apple telling me what I can/can't do.
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WiWavelength

Aug 2, 2009, 4:09 PM

Consider this related question:

If your cable ISP were to block or degrade your access to IP based video on demand services (e.g. Netflix VOD) because your ISP's cable TV division markets its own video on demand service, would that be a reasonable, market based action?

AJ
matonater

Jul 31, 2009, 7:00 PM

this needs to stop

the fcc is going crazy if google did not complain then why are they stepping in

if google makes a product apple does not want so be it

is the gvnt going to check out walmart if I pass on one of their products
Like I said before...I really think someone in the FCC got screwed over by a cellphone company. Now that person has put things into effect to screw that company over....
If I understand this google voice app correctly. It will have a negative impact on at&t and apple. It would kinda be like walmart allowing target to set up a register in their store. How is this fair to Apple and especially at&t. If i'm not unders...
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Google don't make phones.

Microsoft don't make computers, I don't think.

Dell don't make operating systems.

Dell makes a computer and Microsoft put its software OS on the computer and makes the software where only its programs are compatible...
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KoldPhusion

Jul 31, 2009, 7:18 PM

FCC = Gestapo

What in the world are they doing? If AT&T/Apple were to allow Google Voice to run on their phones, they could potentially lose millions. When did the FCC get so crazy?
When the government wanted to start controlling every aspect of your life... I mean January 20th.
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Doubtful.
You need to have a voice plan to have a data plan on ANY of these phones.

If anything, it would lose on OVERPRICED international calling (can be done with dialaround card anyways/Skype Mobile anyways)

With QoS not being as good, I don...
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Slammer

Jul 31, 2009, 7:41 PM

From what I gather from this...

Is that it is not so much about the declination of the google app. This appears to strickly put the heat on ATT and Apple to start providing answers to questions. Mainly over the exclusivity rights. This is a serious matter for consumers and with Apple and ATT being rather passive on this, the Government is getting agitated.
 
 
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