Google, Apple Joust Over Rejected Voice App

ZipK writes with an update to last month's FCC inquiry that landed Apple and AT&T in hot water over the apparent rejection of a Google Voice app for the iPhone. All three companies submitted statements to the FCC — Apple claimed the app hadn't been rejected at all, that they were simply "studying" it further. The public version of Google's statement contained a redacted section, which they politely referred to as "sensitive," but after seeing Apple's comments, they decided to reveal the entire document. Google's FCC filing directly contradicts what Apple said: "Apple's representatives informed Google that the Google Voice application was rejected because Apple believed the application duplicated the core dialer functionality of the iPhone. The Apple representatives indicated that the company did not want applications that could potentially replace such functionality." (PDF, page 4.) Apple quickly released a statement reiterating that they did not reject the app.

Re:The accepted and rejected it

[Anonymous Coward]

That was a third party app that Apple accepted and later rejected, not the official Google Voice one. The official-from-Google Google Voice app was never available on the app store.

Re:Still waiting for Google to release to Cydia/Ic

[morgan_greywolf]

Google already supports Mobile Terminal Google code project for jail broken iPhones/iTouches, so the precedent is there.

Just because an app is hosted on Google Code doesn't mean that Google officially supports or endorses it. Google Code is similar to Sourceforge: they accept virtually any and all projects that are licensed under an OSI-approved license.

Tell the FCC what you think

[adenied]

Instead of sitting around on Slashdot crying like a bunch of babies who can't open a bottle of milk, put your comments in the official record. Tell the FCC what you think. Maybe it won't have any impact, but at least your message will be out there for someone to potentially see. And who knows, if the public actually cares about this maybe the FCC will actually listen.

There isn't an official docket for this at the FCC yet. It's contained in a rule making proceeding, RM-11361. You can file comments into the official record here:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi [fcc.gov]

As usual, try to be civil. But let the FCC know what you think. Complaining on Slashdot won't do you any good.

Re:Stop buying crippled devices

[Anonymous Coward]

This isn't true. You are allowed to use aftermarket parts on your car. In order for the car company to void your warrenty it is up to THEM to prove your aftermarket part damaged the vechicle.

Re:Corporate Culture

[RedK]

MacOS (the thing that used to be called System # and run on 68k machines) and Mac OS X aren't the same thing at all. Mac OS X is actually NeXTSTEP with a new display engine. It has nothing that was in the original and for a time, you had to run Mac OS 9 to get app compatibility. So while I see the point you're trying to make, you're mostly just trolling.

Re:Stop buying crippled devices

[gander666]

Wow, you must have a selective memory of cars from the 60's and early 70's. Those engines often needed rebuilds at or before 100K miles, and the mechanical point/condenser ignition systems needed unbelievably frequent tune ups or the performance started to go to hell in a hurry.

Cars today (including the US marques) are so much superior that it is not uncommon to go 30K miles before anything "tune-up" like is done to them, apart from periodic lubrication changes and air filter changes. Hell, the new Cadillac northstar engines can go 100K miles before you need to change the spark plugs.

Much of this improvement has come through the use of better manufacturing techniques (tighter tolerances, better materials, improved functional wear surfaces), but as important is a significantly improved level of knowledge of the systems that go into a powertrain, and much better control electronics.

I do remember my 1964 Nova wagon. Loved it, but it kept my weekends busy keeping it running (not too bad for a kid in his teens, but today, I do not want to spend my spare time working on my automobile.)

Re:Stop buying crippled devices

[bcmm]

Not to mention that Apple hardware lasts a HELL of a lot longer than a vast majority of comparable products from other companies.

No.

It doesn't last longer. On average, Apple products probably do takes longer to develop a fault than competing devices, but once a fault has developed, I would say it's less likely that you can get it fixed, and almost impossible that you'll be able to fix it yourself or get it fixed cheaply.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Stop buying crippled devices

[mgblst]

Let's hope the company's name gets tarnished enough by the numerous apps that consumers actually want, and developers want to write, but Apple won't approve.

You know, people have made Millions, millions from one app. You are so ignorant if you think that a few rejections, and there have not been that many, are going to change anything..

Rank Title Units Sold Current Price
1 Tap Tap Revenge Classic 4,036,348 $0.99
2 Fieldrunners 1,638,916 2.99
3 Flight Control 1,381,320 0.99
4 Touchgrind 990,086 $4.99
5 Zombieville USA 960,868 1.99
6 iShoot 843,392 $1.99
7 Super Monkey Ball 748,063 5.99
8 Hero of Sparta 747,716 0.99
9 Enigmo 686,160 2.99
10 The Sims 3 669,280 9.99

Re:Stop buying crippled devices

[mgblst]

Well, it is on Telstra, so no way I am going near that beast. Sure, it might be the same price upfront, but the extra charges you pay on Telstra compares to the other Australia carriers, Optus, Vodafone, 3 are a joke, and push it over the edge.