The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigating into Apple's rejection of Google's official Google Voice application and other third-party iPhone apps from the App Store was quite interested in finding out AT&T's role in the decision-making process.
AT&T has issued the following statement in response to FCC's inquiry:
“AT&T does not manage or approve applications for the App Store. We have received the letter and will, of course, respond to it.”
With that statement, AT&T seems to have shifted the blame on Apple for the rejections, but as John Gruber of Daring Fireball points out, they haven't flatly denied it.
In another probably related development, Google's CEO Eric Schmidt has resigned from Apple's Board of Directors. Apple and Google have clarified that the main reason for Eric Schmidt's exit was to avoid “conflict of interest” due to Google’s entry into mobile operating systems with Android and desktop operating systems with Chrome OS. Though Google and Apple might be telling us the truth that it was mutually decided, it seems like the FCC inquiry accelerated the decision.
Federal Trade Commission has issued a statement commending Apple and Google for Eric Schmidt's resignation from Apple's Board of Directors. However, they plan to continue to investigate the corporate ties between the two companies for potential anti-competitive activities based on this comment from Bureau of Competition Director Richard Feinstein:
"We have been investigating the Google/Apple interlocking directorates issue for some time and commend them for recognizing that sharing directors raises competitive issues, as Google and Apple increasingly compete with each other. We will continue to investigate remaining interlocking directorates between the companies."
It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds with government getting involved.
While the blogosphere continues to debate on the real reason for the rejection, folks at JoyOfTech have given the most likely (and the funniest) explanations as to why Apple banned Google Voice from the App Store.
What do you think is the real reason for Google Voice apps getting rejected from the App Store? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
First one biatch!
I think Google is getting closer everyday into direct competition with Apple. The only thing the App Store is doing with Google apps is letting Google know what their users like and don't like and promoting Google at the same time. I think Apple is trying to do away with their future competition. You don't see any Microsoft apps.
Oh and AT&T is full of crap. Sure they might not directly approve or disapprove apps in the App Store but they can put pressure on Apple. Why are all these app downloads limited to 10MB through their network??
I THINK ITS ALL ABOUT WHO' GONNA HAVE THE BIGGEST PIECE OF THE CAKE…OR WHO IS GONNA GET MORE MONEY, IF GOOGLE APP GETS APPROVED,THEN GOOGLE GETS ALL THE MONEY! IF IT GETS REJECTED, THEN ATT WILL GET THE MONEY … REMEMBER, YOU CAN MAKE CALLS WITH THAT APP AT NO CHARGE SO WHO ENDS UP REJECTING THE APP? ATT ? OR GOOGLE… APPLE ALREADY MADE THEIR MONEY. THEY GET 30% OF EVERY APP……
Can the FCC do something about getting us Flash on iphone?
Hmm just realized it might be possible to just get an ipod touch instead of iphone if google voice was approved.
that graphic is hysterical
Is it really that important,I'd rather have Flash instead.
" I got one that can see !!! "
http://www.theyliveandwesleep.com
Apple wants to control every thing. when i went to get my iphone from the Apple store they were giving me hell saying i do nor have a update, and told me to call AT&T. i got some one on the phone and that guy from AT&T was pissed as hell about apple and kept saying they just control every thing and cant ever get any thing right. ended up i had to go to the AT&T store and had a iphone in my hand within minutes using me upgrade. As of google i think its because of the G1 & G2
Is it really that big of a deal that Google Voice got rejected from the App Store? I'm sure Apple declines a bunch of Apps a day but you don't see the FCC getting involved with any of those.
Apple made the App Store so I think they should be able to accept and decline whoever they want for whatever reason they want. The FCC shouldn't even be involved. Not to mention Google has the G1 (which competes against the iPhone) and if I am correct the G1 was "supposedly" the "iPhone killer". Why should Apple accept them.
I use Google probably a million times a day. I don't have anything against them but I just think Apple should be able to do whatever they want in the App Store without be roticuled by everyone just because they wanna make free phone calls.
You would not be able to use GV on an iPod. It uses a cellular connection to dial to your number assigned by Google. You could use Skype as that is a VOIP application and buy a number from them. GV is not a VOIP app.
Actually, MS has an app on the appstore. Check out Seadragon.