Hey, iPhone, Are You a Computer or a Phone?
By Harry McCracken | Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 10:36 am
What a revoltin’ development this is. As my colleague Jason Meserve has written, TechCrunch is reporting that Apple has rejected Google’s Google Voice app for the iPhone, as well as a couple of unofficial Google Voice apps which Apple says duplicate standard iPhone features. The logical assumption is that Apple did so because AT&T is nonplussed about Google providing phone services. But as Daring Fireball’s John Gruber says, maybe Apple just sees Google as an Apple rival who it doesn’t want leveraging the iPhone platform.
In either case, one thing’s clear: These apps aren’t being kept out of the App Store in the interest of iPhone owners. Apple’s monopoly on app distribution means that iPhone owners who haven’t unlocked their phones simply don’t have control over their devices.
In most respects that matter, the iPhone is by far the best mobile platform that has ever existed. I keep telling people that it proves that it’s not going to be very long until we think of a Personal Computer as something we carry in our pockets, and even laptops begin to look like antiques. But an iPhone that’s deprived of apps that Apple and/or carriers dislike for competitive reasons isn’t really a PC. It’s just a phone that offers a heck of a lot of applications. And the App Store, like the crummy, self-serving download stores that carriers have put on phones, is a walled garden–just a really big walled garden.
For thirty years, PC owners have had the final call on what software they used. That’s why many people run Apple software on Microsoft operating systems and Microsoft software on Apple operating systems. It’s why people get to run Firefox and Chrome on Windows, even though they duplicate features in Internet Explorer. If it hadn’t been this way for decades, the growth of the Windows and Mac platforms would have been horribly stunted, and the computers we use today would be a lot less useful and interesting. And if Apple maintains these policies moving forward, the iPhone platform will be horribly stunted, and iPhones will be a lot less useful and interesting than they might have been.
I keep coming back to what Steve Jobs told us at the Apple event that introduced the App Store last year:
Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforeseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings.
I’m looking on the bright side: Apple’s approval process is capricious enough that it’s entirely possible it’ll change its mind and permit Google Voice apps on the App Store at some point. A couple of months ago, the company approved the excellent e-reader Eucalyptus shortly after rejecting it. Doesn’t that establish a precedent for quiet undoing of bad decisions?
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Remember What Steve Said About the App Store? Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 11:41 am[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. […]
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Remember What Steve Said About the App Store? | Viningmedia Nieuws Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 11:43 am[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. […]
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Remember What Steve Said About the App Store? | ScooperNews.com Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 11:59 am[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. […]
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Remember What Steve Said About the App Store? | TechDozer.Com Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 12:03 pm[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. […]
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Remember What Steve Said About the App Store? | Cellphone Ultra Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 12:21 pm[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide plus mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the instance referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. […]
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Remember What Steve Said About the App Store? | UpOff.com Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 12:54 pm[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. This “unforeseen” section is what really bugs everyone. Google Voice, for example, could feasibly recreate some basic iPhone functionality and also act as a resource hog. […]
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The Far Edge » Blog Archive » Remember What Steve Said About the App Store? Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 12:57 pm[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. […]
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Remember What Steve Said About the App Store? | Technology Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 6:04 pm[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. […]
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What if…Microsoft Had a Windows App Store? | Technologizer Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 6:19 pm[…] a phone but as a personal computer. Which is why I continue to be so nonplussed about Apple’s barring of some applications on the grounds that they compete with its own apps, and others at (repo… The moves may well serve Apple’s short-term goals. Long term, though, I think they’ll […]
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Remember What Steve Said About the App Store? - BlogAngle Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 7:01 pm[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. […]
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I thought Eric Schmidt had an amazing competitive advantage by sitting on Apple’s board? « Sharing the truth one thread at a time Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 7:25 pm[…] Hey, iPhone, Are You a Computer or a Phone? […]
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Steve Jobs on the App Store | PaintedColors Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 11:06 pm[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. […]
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What if Microsoft had been more like Apple? « The View From Out Here Says:
July 29th, 2009 at 6:49 am[…] You may also be interested in how Apple feels about Google developing apps like Google Voice for the iPhone, or rather, how Apple isn’t going to let Google develop apps like Google Voice for the iPhone. Have a look. […]
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Remember What Steve Said About the App Store? « Host Yard IT Services Says:
July 29th, 2009 at 5:46 pm[…] Harry “Long Tail” McCracken remembers what Steve said way back in the old days about the App Store. Jobs said that Apple wouldn’t distribute porn or malicious apps or privacy-invading apps, and said that Apple’s interests and those of third-party developers were the same. The slide also mentioned “Bandwidth hogs,” which apparently meant stuff like SlingPlayer, and “Unforseen,” which I assumed at the time referred to other applications that put iPhone owners at risk in one way or another. What he didn’t do is say that Apple would reject software that competed with Apple or AT&T offerings. […]
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Flow » Blog Archive » Daily Digest for July 30th - The zeitgeist daily Says:
July 29th, 2009 at 9:22 pm[…] The iPhone App Store is the world’s biggest walled garden. — 7:00am via Google […]
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The Feds Look Into Apple’s Google Voice Rejection. Good! | Technologizer Says:
July 31st, 2009 at 5:17 pm[…] know I’d like to use the Google Voice app on my iPhone. I know that I believe Apple’s app approval process should be less restrictive and more open. But I’m not a lawyer–and I don’t know whether Apple’s actions to date […]
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The Feds Look Into Apple’s Google Voice Rejection. Good! | Oh Wow ... a Blog Says:
August 12th, 2009 at 10:23 am[…] know I’d like to use the Google Voice app on my iPhone. I know that I believe Apple’s app approval process should be less restrictive and more open. But I’m not a lawyer–and I don’t know whether Apple’s actions to date […]
July 28th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Isn’t it odd that Google have revealed two app rejections on the past week or so? Wouldn’t have anything to do with investigations into links at board level? Doesn’t it seem a bit choreographed ?
Whatever, it’s absolutely right that it’s not in the interests of consumers and plays into the hands of Android and Blackberry.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Daring Fireball updated:
[“Update 1:40 pm: Well, so much for my speculation. A reliable little birdie has informed me that it was indeed AT&T that objected to Google Voice apps for the iPhone. It’s that simple.]
July 28th, 2009 at 11:24 am
With AT&T’s monopoly over the iphone they can do whatever they want. Ultimately Apple and AT&T are the one making the deal and enjoying the premium pricing/membership. Smells like anti monopoly case to me. What do you think?
July 28th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Cellular data networks should learn from the follys of AOL, not repeat them. Unless of course they have no long term strategy. Short term-wise, they are just milking the cow while it lasts.
July 28th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
How is google voice different than skype?
July 28th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Apple rewrote the vendor/carrier rule book. Apple calls most of the shots and lets AT&T cover the data, phone call, tethering and texting sales.
Apple makes most of the decisions and the carrier has the odd thing to rule upon.
If it were Verizon/Apple, Verizon would be selling everything including the apps, music, movies, books and podcasts.
I think we got off easy.
March 25th, 2011 at 2:33 am
Or is it a TV or sound system. Oh no it is super phone in disguise. Clever machine ! Seriously the Apple products are unquestionably superior products.
August 10th, 2011 at 3:37 am
It's why it's so popular the iPhone as it does a huge number of things and more with the App store and it's simple to use. The iPhone is also incredicly locked down but you pay the price for that by everything 'just works' and works fast at that too!