Google’s Google Voice FCC Letter: Uncensored!
By Harry McCracken | Friday, September 18, 2009 at 11:02 am
Last month, Apple, AT&T, and Google all responded to the FCC’s request for information on the circumstances regarding Apple’s failure to approve some Google applications for release on the iPhone App Store. The letters became public, and helped to explain what was going on. Except that Google chose to redact its answer to a really important question in the version of the letter released for general consumption:
Several people filed Freedom of Information Act requests to see the unexpurgated letter, and rather than fight the requests, Google has decided to accept publication of the full letter. Here’s the section we didn’t see before:
On one level, there’s nothing surprising here: In Apple’s own letter to the FCC, it said it hadn’t approved Google Voice largely because it “altered(d)” and “replace(d)” placed Apple’s own phone-related features with ones designed by Google. (Alter and replace probably aren’t the right words here: Google Voice would be an additional way to make calls on the iPhone, and Apple’s features would remain unchanged. But you get the idea.)
But here’s one bombshell: Apple’s letter denied that the company had rejected Google Voice and said that it was still “studying” and “ponder(ing)” the app. Google’s letter, however, says that Apple told it that Google Voice had been rejected, period. The real-world difference is pretty much moot, since an application that enters a permanent limbo of being studied and pondered is no more useful to the world than one that’s been rejected. But it still seems to be a fundamental disagreement on a matter of fact: Apple says it didn’t reject the app, and Google says it did.
Also interesting: Google says the matter went all the way up to Phil Schiller. That would remove the possibility that Google Voice ran into trouble because of hasty and/or inconsistent decision-making by lower-level employees involved in the App Store. Apple knew what it was doing.
Just how directly was Google CEO’s exodus from the Apple board tied to this disagreement? Your guess is as good as mine, but if Schmidt were still on the board today it would be particularly strange given the Rashomon-like situation that’s developed.
As I’ve said before, I want a phone that lets me replace standard functionality with new and useful alternatives. Apple says that doing so may confuse iPhone owners, but I have a hunch that most of them are smart enough to deal with it–and hey, if they’re baffled, they can always delete the app in question.
I continue to think that Apple will eventually come to the conclusion that a more open-minded approach to iPhone app approval is in its own best interest. I just hope it decides that sooner rather than later, and without further nudging by the FCC.
Accepting and releasing Google Voice in the form Google originally submitted it wouldn’t address the larger issues here, but it would be an awfully good start…
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AT&T and Google at Odds Over Google Voice–This Time For Realz | Technologizer Says:
September 26th, 2009 at 1:45 am[…] all: News AT&T may have played no part in Apple’s rejection infinite pondering of Google’s Google Voice app for iPhone, but that doesn’t mean that the phone carrier is a Google Voice fan. Far from it, […]
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Google, Verizon Sign Android Phone Pact | Ringtones For Mobiles Latest News and Deals Says:
October 7th, 2009 at 2:55 pm[…] Voice, the greater the chances that Apple might decide it’s in its competitive interests to stop pondering the Google application and get it for the App Store. Wouldn’t be cool if AT&T ending up […]
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Verizon and Google Team Up for Android Phones | Technologizer Says:
October 11th, 2009 at 4:37 pm[…] the greater the chances that Apple might decide it’s in its competitive interests to stop pondering the Google application and get it for the App Store. Wouldn’t be cool if AT&T ended up […]
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Apple vs. Google Voice-With A Little AT&T and the FCC Thrown In For Good Measure | youserblog - nothing else Says:
October 15th, 2009 at 1:21 am[…] it in the first place. But apparently Google has proof otherwise which they stated in their written response to the […]
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The Apple iPhone App Store Approval Process: A Really Inefficient Route for Getting to the Right Decision | Technologizer Says:
November 15th, 2009 at 12:04 am[…] the store eventually. (Offhand, the only apps I wish I could get that Apple has denied me are Google Voice and the 3G-capable version of SlingPlayer; if there’s a bad guy in the later instance, […]
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FCC Demands Answers from Verizon on Fees | Technologizer Says:
December 4th, 2009 at 5:09 pm[…] Verizon will have to respond to the FCC, which has increased its role as a consumer watchdog. IIf this is how the FCC is going to act going forward, I’m pleased – so long as the […]
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Apple and Microsoft: Together Again, on the iPhone? Says:
January 20th, 2010 at 2:05 pm[…] any of the companies in question in the way I’d like to–which seems to be the case with Google Voice and its continued unavailability on the iPhone. So while I’m okay with Microsoft nudging Google out of its coveted spot on the iPhone, I […]
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Line2: A Fresh, Flexible Take on iPhone VoIP Says:
March 25th, 2010 at 2:45 pm[…] standard phone dialer, only with more features; maybe you have a theory as to why Apple thought that the Google Voice app would “confuse” iPhone owners but is okay with […]
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Finally! The iPhone Google Voice App Says:
November 16th, 2010 at 12:01 pm[…] limbo for the app, during which Apple was supposedly pondering the implications of approving it and the FCC stepped in. Then Apple loosened/clarified its acceptance policies, and unofficial Google Voice apps started […]
September 18th, 2009 at 11:07 am
With Latitude why not offer it as an update for the existing Map App?
September 18th, 2009 at 11:40 am
I think Apple’s agreement with Google on the Maps application is different than the normal App Submission process. I am fairly sure that Apple develops the actual App with input from Google but they don’t have the control to add features like that.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Here’s my present situation. I did not replace my 3G with a 3GS. The contract for the 3G runs to November 2010 (I only bought the 3G when AT&T rolled out 3G where I spend most of my time).
In June (pure guesswork on the timing of course) when Apple announces the next big iPhone thing, I’ll look at it and at their handling of the app store and at the competition as it exists then, and decide what to do (AT&T says I’ll be low-cost upgrade eligable in May 2010).
Note: right now, there is essentially no competition (for me, here), as Sprint is unusable here, and Verizon was when I left for the iPhone (I was going to leave for AT&T anyhow because of poor signal).
September 19th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
This is all getting quite funny. Apple to engage damage limitation by accepting GV in 5,..4,..3,..
September 19th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
When I read Apple’s second reason in part B of Google’s response, I thought to myself, “So I guess people don’t use the same password on two accounts because they’ll get one of the account’s passwords confused.”
September 27th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Who cares? Google voice on Android will be far more interesting anyway. And no silly “approval” process!