Earlier today we learned that Apple had begun to pull all Google Voice-enabled applications from the App Store, citing the fact that they “duplicate features that come with the iPhone”. Now comes even worse news: we’ve learned that Apple has blocked Google’s official Google Voice application itself from the App Store. In other words, Google Voice — one of the best things to happen to telephony services in a very long time — will have no presence at all on the App Store. If there’s ever been a time to be furious with Apple, now is it.
A Google Spokesperson has told us the following:
We work hard to bring Google applications to a number of mobile platforms, including the iPhone. Apple did not approve the Google Voice application we submitted six weeks ago to the Apple App Store. We will continue to work to bring our services to iPhone users — for example, by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers.
Of course, it’s not hard to guess who’s behind the restriction: our old friend AT&T. Google Voice scares the carriers. It allows users to send free SMS messages and get cheap long-distance over Google Voice’s lines. It also makes it trivial to switch to a new phone service, because everyone calls the Google Voice number anyway. Carriers have known about Google Voice for a long time, but it wasn’t until recently that it began accepting new users, and there has still been some hassle associated with actually using the service. Smartphone apps like GV Mobile remove many of those hassles, which is why AT&T is keen to keep them off the iPhone (Google already has official apps available for BlackBerry and Android).
Here’s another testament to just how ridiculous this move is: GV Mobile’s developer Sean Kovacs says that the app was personally approved last April by Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing — the man who often takes the stage during Apple keynotes when Steve Jobs isn’t around. Kovacs says that Schiller called him to personally apologize for the delay in initially getting the application approved. Now, I’m sure Apple has laid out in its terms of service somewhere that you’re not allowed to mimic the iPhone’s functionality. But when you’ve got a blessing from that high up, that would seem like a pretty good indication that the application belongs in the App Store.
The thing that really bothers me about the move is that Apple is now actively stifling innovation. Google Voice is the kind of service that can actually have a positive impact on your life, and not in a frivolous, entertainment-related sense. It makes it easier to connect with people, and to manage those connections. Apple can point to the App Store’s 50,000 applications all it wants, but how many of them could truly be called groundbreaking? Are they really putting a dent in the universe?
All the more upsetting is that this comes from the company that Steve Jobs built. The company that once made record labels bow to a flat 0.99 pricing structure for years longer than they would have liked is now screwing customers because AT&T asked them to. They’re trying to limit what I can and can’t run on my mobile phone — a phone whose marketing is largely based on its extensibility.
Back when the App Store first launched there were some warnings about its walled garden approach — could developers trust Apple to maintain a fair marketplace? Until recently, Apple has managed the store in a generally benevolent, if not somewhat incompetent manner. But now things are taking a turn for the worse. From a handicapped Sling app to blocked apps from Qik and Google Voice, it’s becoming clear that Apple is doing its best to keep many of the iPhone’s most game-changing apps away from users. Palm, if you’re looking for marketing material — take note.
Update: John Gruber has confirmed with a trusted source that AT&T is to blame for the Google Voice ban.
Image by brankomaster.
Wow, more openness from competitors could really go a long way in reversing that uptick in customer attrition Verizon noticed.
I don’t get why some of you guys are acting so surprised by this. When they launched the iPhone initially they didn’t and wouldn’t consider 3rd party apps as they would ‘degrade the overall expereince”. They sold us that web-app hor$eshit until they saw emerging homebrew scene and recognized the opportunity.
So they build their little walled garden with arbitrary rules and treat developers like shiat…but who cares. We get 3rd party apps in elegantly and can only run them one at time because multitasking will ‘degrade the overall experience’.
This behavior is quintessential Apple. You all pretend like they are a non profit, pro-consumer, charity-like entity when time and again they demonstrate differently. And blaming their partners for their management decisions is getting real old.
“You all pretend”
why do you speak past tense?
well a few have suddenly realized… so we believe… I am sure within 24 hours we will see another fan boy article on tc. but that is what the readers want. can’t really blame them
Andre sounds french, so I’ll give you a pass. But seriously: “You all pretend” is in the present tense.
Help me out – I’m developing an app for iPhone, but it would work just fine as a web app.
Why should I develop a native app, risk it not being approved or just yanked by Apple, and, if it is approved, I still have to fork over 30% of my revenue to Apple.
Alternatively, I can develop a web app, which will look and perform just like the native app. Sure, “discoverability” is the trade-off.
Seriously? “Discoverability?” is the magic difference? Someone talk me off the ledge – I’m about to do it as a web app. Tell me why I shouldn’t.
@jimmyjj thanks man.. must of had one glass of wine too much
when i first read and copied it it looked more like pretended… (embarrassed smile)
@BB
“Why should I develop a native app, risk it not being approved or just yanked by Apple, and, if it is approved, I still have to fork over 30% of my revenue to Apple.”
Er, that would be because you would GET 70% of the App selling price as opposed to 100% of nothing if you developed it as a web app.
Your app won’t get pulled unless you replicate something the iPhone does or try and get round what the carrier does. Which is what the Google Voice app does.
Apple’s deal is with AT&T and not Google as the carrier. Get over it.
One rule for one…
Skype is getting around what the carrier does by providing VoIP calls. Granted it isn’t nearly as feature rich or integrated as Google Voice but is it that apple fear the might of Google far more than Skype?
@BB – If you’re going to charge, it needs to be in the AppStore or Android Market. If it’s a free App, by all means put it on the web – you’ll get more visibility from EVERY smartphone, instead of just the iPhone.
All those millions of Nokia smartphones which dwarf the iPhone can access a web app.
@RattyUK –
“Apple’s deal is with AT&T and not Google as the carrier. Get over it.”
Do you even know how Google Voice works, or are you just an idiot? The ONLY thing that Google Voice “competes” with them on is SMS – which you can STILL access online via ANY ATT smartphone!
Apple has dozens of deals with many service providers around the world – not just ATT. Yet Apple blocked this from their worldwide App Store. HRMM.
Google Voice isn’t Voip. You use regular minutes to make calls – it’s most just a good buffer and a more portable phone line. How does that compete with Apple or ATT?
Apple wont do things ahead of time. Like HD video it wont do, which will result in lag and waste of people’s time like android. They will approve goog voice, but in 2010.
uhh, what? Google Voice is ahead of its time? Are you crazy?
I DEMAND ANSWERS!
Guys… It was pulled by Apple because it is a breach of contract with AT&T, which won a competitive bid to provide cell and data services exclusively for a fixed period. If they didn’t yank it, the headline would read “AT&T files multibillion dollar lawsuit against Apple for refusing to remove Google Voice app”
Make a little more sense now?
@neha — yeah I’m _certain_ Apple wasn’t working on improving the SDK that first year the phone was out. Nah, couldn’t be … must be shitty old Apple spoiling your diapers.
If Google already has an app, what does the upcoming SDK have anything to do with it? They’ve already coded it…
Apple is evil.
They sell you a phone that cost them $150 to make (R&D by Foxconn, mass manufacturing by slaves in China), they sell it to you at $2500 including a 2-year lock-in contract.
Obviously, the money is in forcing consumers onto the expensive Voice and SMS plans, so obviously Apple wants to block any type of real VOIP applications, they will block bandwidth heavy multimedia applications like Qik, music streaming software and much more, they will block Amazon.com music purchasing and alternative synchronizing software to iTunes.
Apple will remotely brick your iphone if you try to unlock it or jailbreak it once connected to an updated itunes software.
The phone may cost $150 in materials to make but how much money do you think went into the R&D in the years preceding its release. Its fairly significant. If you dont like the iPhone its simple, dont get it, get your Blackberry or Nokia or HTC handset and see if you are any better off. My guess is that you arent.
Sure this latest Google Voice block is bad but I think you can blame AT&T for the decision, not Apple.
except that ATT allows it on the blackberry, and iPhone can still access it via the web.
Yep, totally ATT’s fault that they allow access via other means and devices, but they blocked it from the Apple AppStore.
Right.
Apple does not actually do the R&D. They bought the user interface touch screen rights from a company in Delaware, I think it was called Fingerworks.
They really do not do all that much design and development like y’all think. They just put stuff together and sue the hell out of competitors legally or like in the latest instance google.
@G
You simply don’t know what you are talking about. Apple BOUGHT FingerWorks in 2005, and hired their two main software engineers, who continued their work as Apple employees. The FingerWorks paradigms were NOT taken piecemeal for the iPhone. Rather significant additional research went into every aspect of the iPhone.
AT&T is evil.
itll be interesting once droid comes. . . im waiting to see if verizon does the same on an android device . . .i highly doubt that they will . . . and if droid is half as good as it is hyped to be . . . ill switch
You are quite mistaken. Sounds like unintended FUD The phone is just fine, even after syncing .
Blame Apple for making a bad agreement on behalf of the consumers, but this is ATT. Would you have preferred ATT just blocked their domain (that might still come).
Apple officially bricks your unlocked/jailbroken iphone: http://gizmodo....mean-303171.php
Uhh that article is from 2007. All Apple is saying “officially” is that they aren’t responsible if a hack causes their update system to fail, since they don’t test for that.
They have never *intentionally* bricked anyone’s phone and you are wrong to imply otherwise.
Why everybody complain?!?
If you don’t agree with Apple policies, just don’t buy the iPhone!
They saw it, it was one of the reasons Verizon didn’t want anything to do with Apple was due to the aftermarket. They have their own greedy ringtone and emerging app store. It’s where the money is. Anyone can figure that.
Shane
You can’t seriously believe that there was a time that apple didn’t plan on 3rd party aps on the iPhone, can you? Apples MO for years has been:
1. You don’t want x. X is slow and crappy and a big pile of problems.
2. We are announcing X! It is awesome! Boom!
There is a metric ton of technologies that they’ve done this for, yh reason being as long as they don’t offer x, they don’t want you to want it. Once they offer x, they want you to wet your pants in excitement over it. iPhone sdk was a cookie cutter example of this.
The internet has made this world real close. Our conversance and disagreement now needs just few ‘type-ins’ and ‘clicks’ to be put across. As blogs, forum postings, articles and comments, today, personal deductions, however gross, irrelevant or unnecessary they are, can be put across easily for the others to know.
I just stumbled upon one news on the Apple’s decision to exclude Google Voice from its list of iPhone applications. Scoffers have started to jibe on the decision by drawing parallel to the iPhone creator’s decision of including ‘iWet T-shirt’ – a PG-13 rated game developed by Synapse Communications (an Indian iPhone application development major – http://www.syna...s/ip_iwet.shtml) in the list of its applications.
Google Voice, no doubt, is a useful application. Rejection of the same would upset many iPhone, and all Google, fans. But the way the scathing remarks have been directed to Apple, I doubt on the (seemingly) ‘purist’s’ credentials. They sound more like Apple’s diehard anti, than ones anyway near to being seekers of an adult /sex theme-free list of iPhone applications.
If Apple has approved iWet, it also did it with a word of caution by rating the same with PG 13. It now entirely remains in the discretion of user to download the application.
Perhaps days of unnecessary fistfights and derisions against adult theme-oriented applications/websites are over. In the web world, where access to everything interesting is just a click away, we need to be more ingenious in setting our priorities and open towards abiding holistic regulations.
This is just Apple and Google working together to help each other out with that little “Schmidt on the Apple board.” Just reject a few Apps and don’t stand together too close when they’re holding hands and maybe people will look away so they can get back to their coopertition.
I have to register my frustration and dissapointment.
Apples move to block the Google Voice application if carried through is hypocritical…
While I know that you need a wifi connection to use Skype it does provide very similar functiolity and services.
Apple need to end their exclusive carrier deals, create a level playing field for all and work to ensure inovation and freedom of choice for its customers if not stifled.
Oh and allowing apps to execute in the backgroud like the Palm Pre would be a long overdue blessing.
The difference is that Google Voice encourages you to use your GV number as your main number, thereby effectively disabling your relationship with AT&T – or at the very least downplaying it – the problem from Apple’s point of view is that the 500 bucks or so they are getting paid for every unit from AT&T is at risk.
Changing the subject. You really think that multitasking isn’t coming? It is probably the last feature from the fanboi checklist of reasons for not buying an iPhone that Apple haven’t responded to. It’s coming. Don’t think that the people “wanting” this feature would buy the phone once delivered either BTW.
“The difference is that Google Voice encourages you to use your GV number as your main number, thereby effectively disabling your relationship with AT&T”
Local Number Portability has been available for years. It’s legislated by the FCC. Sure, you can move to a different area, get a local cell number, and still maintain your GV number, but that really doesn’t add any greater risk for AT&T. Screwing over their customer base, on the other hand, will. But realistically, if it’s on Blackberry but Apple pulled it from the App store, this is an Apple issue. Not an AT&T issue. AT&T might have expressed a preference, but they certainly couldn’t *make* Apple pull GV. They could threaten to stop carrying the iPhone, but AT&T needs Apple’s iPhone more than the iPhone needs AT&T. This is Apple’s usual MO. Sell a neat, well-marketed, innovative product at a premium, then refuse to stand behind it. They piss on their customer base and they can afford to because of the morons and fanboys that will take it stay loyal anyway.
The difference is nobody can pull software from the BlackBerry. Apps can be obtained from anywhere.
You are simply wrong. First, as pointed out, there is no way to do the same thing on a Blackberry, and second, there most certainly IS a way for AT&T to “make Apple pull GV.” It is called a breach of contract lawsuit. It was the price of business Apple had to pay in order to get a carrier willing to take the risk on accepting the iPhone on its network.
Are you kidding me? AT&T can not make Apple… Exclusive contractual agreements can make anybody do what they agree to do. This is not a school ground bully issue, it is a contractual legal issue where by Apple did not anticipate this scenario.
“Oh and allowing apps to execute in the backgroud like the Palm Pre would be a long overdue blessing.”
EVERY other phone on the planet can multitask. The iPhone is the only one that “can’t”.
First, every other phone on the planet most certainly can not multitask. Second, the iPhone is perfectly capable of, and does, multitask, it just doesn’t allow registered apps to do so. This is not because Apple is not capable of writing a multitasking OS. Again, the iPhone already can. But they have certain requirements of iPhone usage, one being decent battery life. Been on any of the Palm Pre fora lately? Post after post from folks bitching about the absolutely crappy battery life.
Solution and call to developers:
Post rejected (free) apps at http://www.appulo.us, or make them available through Cydia.
People will be able to download them without Apple’s whimsical approval process, and if they were free, it does no harm to developers.
If big companies like Google don’t want to do it themselves, you know, accidentally send the app to someone who will post it for you.
Give it time… this too shall pass. I would be willing to bet that as new phones (Android, pre, etc) come onto the market, we will see this absurdity stop. Right now, Apple has no true competitors and they can afford to do this. When people start leaving the iphone for more “open” solutions, Apple will change.
Dear Apple,
I am/was a huge advocate of the iPhone. In fact, I have singlehandedly converted at least 5 Verizon Wireless customers to become AT&T and iPhone customers. When I heard the news that AT&T and Apple rejected Google Voice app along with GV Mobile and all apps for Google Voice, I was saddened, disappointed, and outraged. I am embarrassed to be an iPhone advocate right now. Before this incident, I was extremely looking forward to using it with Google Voice, and was going to advocate it to even more current Verizon customers to hopefully switch to AT&T. After this incident occurred, I will no longer advocate for the iPhone especially AT&T. I am even tempted to explore the jailbreak option just to gain GV Mobile. Before this, I was NEVER TEMPTED to do so, but now Apple and AT&T have left me almost no choice but to explore other avenues.
You have no idea the loyalty I had to Apple and AT&T. Now, I am ashamed to be even on this side of the fence. Your action just converted me from an advocate to a critic. Yes, I will explore Palm Pre. Yes, I will explore Blackberry. Before this, I was living in an Apple and AT&T harmonious blindfolded world. Thanks to you… your competitors are now be receiving attention from me… in addition to my 250+ Facebook friends.
Shame on you, Apple. More importantly, shame on you for allowing yourself to be bullied by AT&T.
You ALL NEED TO CHILL
Apple and AT&T are two winning companies. FAR superior to Sprint and Verizon. Always will be. Get over yourselves. It’s like gay marriage, if you don’t believe in gay marriage, don’t marry someone of the same sex. If you don’t like AT&T or the iPhone, then compromise with something lesser.
TC,
Always will be? Are you insane? Companies change man. AT&T was once shattered to pieces, and then, brought together by many layers of buy-outs of smaller telcos. This has happened at least twice. And, during that process, we lost billions of government dollars that were intended for the fiber growth in this country (the funds were swallowed in the buyouts, as the company buying everyone out had no legal commitments to the fiber initiatives with the other company’s funds).
You believing that AT&T and Apple “always will be [winning companies]” is ridiculous.
What crystal ball are you using? Can I have one?
Mine is still working. Are they planning to block already installed apps?
Unlikely. Your current version should keep working.
Just don’t lose it. If you don’t have it on your phone or computer at the same time for whatever reason, forget about having it back again.
Who do you think they are? Amazon?
Don’t even Think, we can do even better than Amazon.
For instance, taking up all the private data of iPhone user and camouflaging the service as ‘Find my iPhone’
Removing any applicaiton will be the feature that we are planning to put up with the $9.95 software upgrade on all OSX devices, including macbook line.
Dave.
Apple’s aura of rebellion and empowerment is fading.
You mean Apple’s aura of conformity and hipster douchebaggery is fading. there, fixed it for ya.
LOL…
this is really tragic
Want Google Voice? There is no app for that
Apple should be expected to disappoint fans from time to time. They are, after all a sealed platform.
“Want Google Voice? There is no app for that”
Lol. Good one
+1
+10 billion and a side of horseradish
“Santy Claus, Why? Why are you taking our Christmas Tree? Why?” –Cindy Lou Who
Wow, this is really messed up. I’d understand if Google Voice was using undocumented API’s like it does for the Google search, but this is just plain wrong.
Until Apple learns to treat it’s developers with respect, I refuse to continue work on my application. And if I do, I will make it available to the jailbreak crowd.
Work on Android dude.
Developers should start focusing on jailbroken apps when they feel cornered by Apple/AT&T, to create a competitive market. Once people flock to jailbroken iPhones, Apple will have to open up.
I do understand Apple’s reasoning for denying this particular application, as it works against AT&T; let’s not confuse Apple with Google now! However, I use GV Mobile religiously and, furthermore, would absolutely buy a jailbroken GV app!
Problem is that jailbroken apps earn no money. One developer sold 45 copies of his game and yet there are well over 1,000 people on the games leaderboard. What is the point of developing if you are going to be ripped off to such an extent?
Like every other software in the world…
Seems Apple is turning into Microsoft with its closed door policy. This is exactly what damaged Microsoft’s brand and made people hate them. I thought Apple were smarter then this.
Microsoft hasn’t done that bad, even when they release duds like Windows Vista.
You must have a short memory.
Microsoft is nothing in comparison to us here at Apple.
We are far more authoritative on what we do behind our closed doors.
We control the entire iPhones and the Macs.
No one else can develop any application without our approval. Get it?
apple does NOT follow microsoft. rather, microsoft’s control freak attitude with the whole yahoo affair was a poor attempt at becoming apple.
our execs love to control everything. you really have no idea unless you’re on this side of the fence.
and they’ve been getting away with it because we make awesome products that people will pay ridiculous excess for. that’s just how it is, and that’s how it’ll be until things change, as they always do. why not just chill and do something more productive than play with your iphone all day?
neha’s completely right about our culture, though i never got the impression that the public viewed us as non-profit and charitable.
andre, “you all pretend” is not past tense. i highly doubt you’re that stupid, so rather than treat you like a youtube commenter, i’m going to guess that you’re probably very sleep-deprived and advise you to improve your sleep habits.
Windows Mobile (Microsoft) is by far a more open platform than iPhone. And… it’s not an opinion.
it may be open, but it’s a crappy operating system with an even crappier interface. and… that’s not an opinion.
Uh yes it absolutely is. I prefer Windows Mobile to that bullshit iPhone any day. In fact, I would never own an iPhone.
Having owned 3 windows mobile devices, a black berry and several other mobile devices I can firmly concur… Windows Mobile sucks! BIG TIME! If you’ve tried to find good applications for WM you know what a cluster it can be. It feels like I’m using Windows 3.1 again. I don’t own anything Apple other than an iPhone, so believe me, I’m no apple fanboy, but it is certainly the slickest mobile device ever mass produced thus far. If your take an objective look at it’s technology and capabilities this is hard to deny. It has it’s quirks but it really is a modern technological marvel and raises the bar quite high. I felt the same way before I played with a few iPhones and saw what I was missing. I can’t imagine going back to using a WM device, BB, or god forbid, a plain ol’ vanilla cell phone…
It sounds like you’ve never even used one!
Right. Because WinMo even if crappy isn’t extensible out the box and you can’t install a copy of Windows on any PC without a Microsoft logo?
Apple doesn’t even let their employee’s blog.
Msft is not closed door. It is very open door. The only thing that can happen is that they will release a program just like yours and bundle it in to windows for free
Guys i think your getting it all wrong,
Before apple signed up to AT&T, there must of been some sort of contractual agreement aht the Iphone must not impact revenues that AT&T make.
Making free phone calls kinda does. So its mroe AT&T’s Fault, not Apples
I’m quite sure that the only reason AT&T is making any kind of money is due to the iPhone.
AT&T can eat a fatal quantity of fecal matter. All the rip off cell carriers can, in fact. I moved to one of the smaller carriers that do flat rate service and have never looked back. I get better service and more features for a fraction of the cost.
You are wrong. There is a Google Voice app for BlackBerry and ATT allows that. You can use a ton of apps in the app store to make free phone calls (Skype, Fring, etc…) This is Apple blocking this, not AT&T. Apple is turning into a bunch of scumbags and should be called out on it.
What makes you think BlackBerry also has the same contractual agreement with AT&T?
Dhaval has a point here. If Apple renews their contract in 2010, they will have made the same big mistake TWICE!
Steve Jobs is a control freak. If fate had put him in Bill Gates’ position, I don’t doubt Apple would have been an even MORE monopolistic, innovation-stifling behemoth lording over the computing industry than Microsoft.
This, paired with the cellphone industry’s abject terror at the idea of an open platform, make for a perfect storm of absolute lockdown.
Everybody who knows *anything* about how phone calls are made nowadays knows that there is no technical difference between a voice call and a data connection — it all goes through the ‘net for most of its journey, or could, if artificial barriers weren’t imposed by the carriers. Cell phone calls should be FREE, FLAT-RATE, for $20 or so per month, like landlines used to be. Why do text messages cost more than a data stream to the freaking Hubble telescope? People just lie down and take it.
Well, I think Apple isn’t as hated as Microsoft because they aren’t the market leader. But they’re trying hard… Not to be the leader, but to be the most hated.
No. Microsoft isn’t as hated as Apple because Microsoft sucks at marketing.
Apple is the world’s best marketing firm. The computer stuff is something of a sideline. The amazing thing is, they manage to survive with only one customer.
“turning into”? Hey, isn’t the standard rap that Microsoft steals everything from Apple?
Now you’ve realized who Microsoft stole monopolistic behavior from. And you’ve realized who’s been doing it longer and more completely.
don’t mean to defend apple really [because i don't like their products other than the iphone], but apple can’t be a monopoly because they have <5% of the market. plus the iphone may be popular but overall it still falls in the “other” category.
apple is a closed platform and will always be.
apple is much worse than microsoft
Until Apple holds a monopoly on the personal computing market, it is not worse than Microsoft. Microsoft’s business practices have been as despicable and lock-in as anyone’s in computing history.
Furthermore, the reason we’re discussing this is that Apple makes some products that people actually WANT. I can’t remember a Microsoft product that came out in recent memory that anyone I know WANTED. Forced to use? Forced to upgrade to? Possibly. But not wanted. All the guys I know that work at Microsoft spend most of their time talking about Google products to me. (Btw, Android rocks.)
I’m slightly biased against MS products, but they have definitely do produce some good things I’ve wanted.
I upgraded to word 2007 for the equation editor (which made it much easier to type up papers).
I switched to bing to do travel searches.
etc.
BTW word is by far the best program I have ever used when it comes to text.
Do you really think they have the biggest share in OS market without anyone wanting Windows, but being forced to use it? Please come out of your Anti-MS dreamland and take a look at the real world.
AT&T needs to stop making Apple look bad!
how sure are we that it’s just because of ATT? What about augmented reality or video apps that are rejected ? Will they approve spotify?
Either apple is preparing too many big services to compete with all these services, or they are just taking advantage of their apparent dominance in the smartphone market.
It’s not only ATT that benefits from the iphone deal; subsidized prices lead to skyrocketing sales of what would otherwise be a very expensive phone.
Yes. Good point. I guess they are both to blame for different circumstances. In this case, it is quite obvious that AT&T is to blame but there have been times when it was Apple.
They are both doing it for similar reasons. Neither like applications that do something for free that they do as a business. AT&T doesn’t like Google Voice because it could hurt their business.
Anyway, I still think AT&T isn’t very good with public relations.
This is not only AT&T being evil. How much money do you think Apple is making selling each iphone on AT&T?
Apple is making GIGANTIC 300% profit margins on each phone. Such profit margins are unheard of in the whole consumer electronics industry.
If it’s AT&T’s fault and not Apple’s, then how can there be a Google Voice application on Blackberry on AT&T?
AT&T is nervous about everything iPhone.
Have you heard of all the MMS & Tethering hoopla? I rest my case.
Apple don’t care, AT&T’s getting more worried each day watching iPhone’s seemingly unstoppable sales growth.
People should make louder noises about this situation. It is unacceptable no matter who’s behind this decision after all.
Apple does care about consumers or rather its own image among consumers. We cry loud enough, sometimes change will be made, unless of course it’s about buttons.
I can’t wait for the million geek march to get this one solved!
Oh wait.
David, it’s because the iPhone is the only platform where apps have to be approved for sale and distribution.
There’s also a fully functional 3G capable SlingPlayer app for BlackBerry on AT&T and we all know the story of what happened with the iPhone version.
Because AT&T doesn’t have to pay 100s of $ to Blackberry.
I’m stunned. Android here I come
Yell loud enough iPhone users! Apple and AT&T will break.
Google…please show some love for Windows Mobile now…please!
Windows Mobile? What, are you retarded?
No, Android is where the people will go. WinMo is fatally broken.
It’s like the Apple TV not reading Divx’s…
They can’t help it, they want to be the Nintendo of personnal computing.
But history tells us that it make sense if innovation is there… look at the Wii
You can crack your iPhone, just like you can crack your NDS.
But for most people, it’s easier to fit in the system.
They know that your anger will soon be forgotten and that you will post positive things about the iPhone
Believe me, they’re experienced…
but, if this is a cycle that apple continues with what another poster said was complain about x & x and then all of a sudden introduce so and so new feature/model, etc…and the apple customers know this formula and buy into it, there has to be a point of break for both apple and even for at & t. am i giving people too much credit in believing that they cannot be that stupid and need to stop believing that only one company can buy loyalty. although apple has captured the innovation niche in hardware, os with their pcs, phones, and ent-players…there are lots of other companies who are doing the same thing. consumers need to be more smart. this isn’t the end though. i think you’re right and that the people at these companies are experienced…they are experienced to know about the failings of consumers.
this is the thing i am afraid of with apple/at&t right now… especially with some other amazing applications like spotify on the horizon, the android just keeps looking like a better option.
This is unfortunate, but definitely not surprising or unforeseen. Apple has never embraced openness, so it is irrational to expect Apple to compromise any of its’ marketing partners who also scorn openness.
LMAO. APPLE BLOWS! i hate apple, and always have.
fixed.
Yeah, and you, are you pissing in your Facebook profile there skipper Lucas? Why are you in the bathroom in your FB profile shot?
Let’s all hate Apple together!
$1999 Macbook Pro… puke!
How does the Google Voice app duplicate iPhone functionality, anyway? There is a phone keypad, but it doesn’t dial the iPhone directly. You know, some of the new Android phones are starting to look really interesting and there are a lot of iPhone contracts coming up for renewal. Just saying…
Apple is in their full right to do this. They have to protect their products!
from what exactly?
competition
Agree, what is Apple protecting?
The only requirement for VoIP apps such as Skype is that they need to run over WiFi, which presumably the Google voice app adheres to as well. With all the iPhones piling unto he AT&T network you would think AT&T would welcome calls going over IP to lighten the load.
Like they have enough bars as it is.
It must be about SMS. If Google Voice free SMS caught on AT&T could lose a ton of cash…which of course they need to fix their notwork.
lol “notwork”
I can also confirm that for people that already have GV functionality (through GV Mobile application) that is has somehow been disabled. I have been using this app every day since it came out. Today, it no longer works. No updates. Its just broken.
I don’t understand how this can be the case unless Google disabled it?
I’m really F&^*king pissed off!
Really? GV Mobile still works for me on the iPhone.
This is such an incredibly idiotic move by Apple that will eventually bite them in the rear. Shutting out one of the most innovative platforms of the last few years just to play nice to a (lousy) telcom is not the Apple we all bit into.
Fail.
If you already had GV Mobile installed on your iPhone, it should still be at 100% functionality. Something is wrong on your end, try restarting your iPhone?
I have the free version of GV Mobile on my iphone and it works just fine still.
Steve Jobs and everyone at Apple is involved, particularly Steve Jobs who is the CEO. They are definitely going the closed system route by frankly disabling and disapproving anything and everything that it finds disagreeble. I think they maybe even worse than Microsoft to a certain degree. They blocked Itunes on Pre saying that “Pre is trying to act like Iphone” and we don’t allow it. Now they say, Google voice is trying to to “duplicate” function. If this is the argument, Microsoft will disable all firefox, safari on windows saying that they are duplicating Internet Explorer. I wonder what the apple fanboys will say about this. They should challenge apple so they don’t do this. They are becoming extremely closed and anticompetitive. They are turning their system to dictatorship. At least microsoft did it quitly and subtly, but Apple is straightforward “no, we don’t like it, ” “this is unnecessary,” “duplicate.” Steve Jobs is becoming much more worse than Bill Gates of 1990s.
Google and Apple are partners, there’s something else going on here.
To be honest Google Voice on iPhone would kick AT&T’s a$$ so this is probably a self-preserving move on the latter’s part.
Still no excuse though…and this could invite govt. regulation.
In Denmark, we have regulation forbidding mobile phone and ISP contracts over 6 months in length. This way, the ways in which we can get screwed by carriers and mobile phone manufacturers is much more limited.
i think this happens to most of europe. over here, you can cancel your contract any time for a small penalty and you can basically change carriers as often as you like, keeping the same number
well you can’t really do that in canada because they have you sign long contracts with providers and then (because i actually read the type) there is a long list of mumbo jumbo about what the customer can or cannot do to break the contract and if you do go ahead and terminate the relationship you have to pay a lot of $$$ which is completely unecessary in my book. i think it’s because there isn’t a lot of competition because there aren’t a lot of mobile providers, but we have become more open and have opened to some american and european companies…although not well known to the public, but things are changing. it’s too bad some of the people at these tech companies and telcomm companies don’t put consumer needs first and like giving it to the customer from behind and just like pissing people off. i wish the government would legislate something like how it is in denmark.
this doesn’t look good for both at&fail and app-le.
We got an email from Phil Schiller in June for our app Line2, which hooks into Toktumi’s hosted pbx platform so small businesses can set up their employees with separate business lines on their iphones. Basically an iphone office phone system – a good thing for apple – and for AT&T because it still uses AT&T minutes. He told us for approval all we needed to do was make it possible to pay for our service through itunes. We spent the time and money to do that and resubmitted the app. Still no approval. If they nix us on the same argument as GV mobile, we’ll have spent that for nothing. And Apple will be making the mistake of shutting out applications useful to business – exactly who they need to appeal to if they want to beat blackberry.
So they wanted their ‘cut’ or they wouldn’t approve your app? Total bullshit.
Yes! Even though we offer hosted PBX features that have nothing to do with the iPhone app – which is just a convenience for our customers. It would be like taking 30% of Salesforce.com subscription fees just because they have an iphone app. Crazy wrong.
That doesn’t make sense. Plenty of free apps let you subscribe outside of itunes. Examples: Slacker, Pandora, Sirius/XM.
@google – release the Voice app on Cydia please!
+1
I agree….Release the app unofficially…I’m never buying Apple again…what a waste!
they can even release it through the ad-hoc method, that works on non-jailbroken phones, since there seems to be great demand.
It sucks to hear that the GV apps are being both pulled and denied. I hope this does not threaten Skype since I use that on my iPhone all the time while at my house.
Worst part about it though is that I am not just using Skype to avoid using my AT&T minutes, it’s because their coverage in my apartment appears to be a blackhole and only wifi services can give me a consistent connection.
It will be interesting to see just how good Verizon’s 4G (LTE) network is going to be and if Apple decides to jump ship in order to “rebrand” the image of the iPhone. Perhaps Verizon will be even more App friendly for the jesus phone?
Limiting a FAKE Skype experience only over WiFi on a mobile phone. What a ridiculous piece of cr%p.
Skype is supposed to be VOIP application. Why does Skype on iphone have to be only about dialing you up and connecting you with the other person on skype or on another phone?
My intuition says, Apple is gonna step back on this in the next month or two , if not sooner. Or else I am getting an Android phone .. no kidding
I am sure Apple is trembling at your ultimatum. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out…
ATT’s actions only underline why I do not have a iPhone. I have been looking for a replacement for my Palm Treo, including the Pre. I am really ticked at what is apparently ATT has done.
If ATT can do this, what will Verizon do with their mandate that all of their phones must use the Verizon App Store.
I have really liked the Openness of the Palm OS world, I hope that this will continue.
This should be no surprise. I have never owned an apple product, if they don’t let me change the battery you know they will screw you over time and time again to make a quick buck. I love their marketing but it is truly an inferior model in this day and age. I hope they die with the patent system, dinosaurs…
Dude, “die with the patent system”? Do you really mean that? Gee, let’s just toss the whole capitalistic system while we’re at it.
Maybe you should move to China where there are few protections –then you can tell us about inferior models.
Chinese build your Apple products in huge factories like a bunch of slaves. Try guessing how much those iphone factory workers are making to build your overpriced apple junk.
i don’t understand why people/commenters on this website seem to be fond of the whole if you don’t like it here go to china/abroad reasoning. i’ve noticed it in a couple of threads and i just think it’s kinda ******. i mean the guy clearly meant some ways of doing things need to be udated or remodeled or thrown out all together, however strong his language was…but of course for saying that, he needs to find a new home overseas because he is no longer welcome in america…according to you. well i guess i am gaging too much from bigdog2000’s comments but seriously. it’s dumb this whole go to china/elsewhere deal.
Why is it news that Apple blocks an app that eats away profits from AT&T?
“profits from AT&T”?
Apple is the one doing most of the profits on your $2500 iphone.
innovation anyone…maybe because it’s an actual good product that people use, but because it doesn’t fit into the apple of at&t sphere and therefore needs to be wiped. maybe at&t just realized that these aps like skype or google are popular with customers because at&t has failed customers. lol. i doubt that happened. they and apple are just kinda scared. i don’t know why when apple preaches innovation all the time but then goes and does this. it’s okay though because it’ll bear on them what the consumer does. i hear androids getting all sorts of good reviews.
We should all complain to apple.
Heres the form:
http://www.appl...ack/iphone.html
Thanks for the link. I sent my feedback, and will pass on your link and encourage others to do so as well. This is bad news!
Done.
Thanks for the link. Feedback sent.
and done again.
Sometimes Apple does listen to its users/developers (Promo codes for 17+ apps), often it just takes a while — and a groundswell of public/blog opposition.
done and done.
Done…
Dear apple,
I’ll forgive many a faux pas but this is just plain evil. Consumers want these innovative apps. IPhone 3GS was not enough of an innovative step for me to upgrade from 3G. Sure it’s a. It faster. Then 3.0 software slowed my 3G? Coincidence? Don’t like where all this is heading. You’re behaving like a monopoly and it’s too early in the game. Looks like I’ll be looking towards android for innovation in future.
Oh… GV was mentioned in the subject line)))
May all iPhone users hack Android onto their iPhones and switch to Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile (or just use WiFi with SIP).
I used to be a huge Mac fan. I still like Macs, but I haven’t owned one for almost 5 years, because a) PC’s are way cheaper, and b) Windows does everything I need it to do, just fine.
However, Apple has done a lot of shitty things since the iPhone came out. I love the iPhone, I own one, it’s great. But every day it gets harder and harder to like and respect Apple. This is a perfect example if why.
Wow. Sensationalist headline FTL.
I really don’t think a site that will post leaked internal twitter documents has any business calling someone else rotten.
well it could be hypocrisy at it’s best, but people (not everyone though) are actually concerned about what apple and at&fail have done and what this means for the future. someone else commented that these companies are experienced and sell consumers the same pos cyclical reasoning…but can they continue to keep doing this for long. iphone users are listing all sorts of grievances against apple and its’ notwork and it’s fun to observe.
Absolutely outrageous! Apple needs to stand up to AT&T with serious pushback. Honestly as a new iPhone 3Gs customer, I had fully expected Apple to permit me to continue to use my Google Voice without assine anticompetitive Microsoft-like blocks put in place. I just bought GV Mobile to easily control my main GV phone number options… And it forwards callers to the iPhone as well so it’s not that much of a threat to AT&T. Their SMS plan limits suck at 200 texts for $5 and only next option is 1500 for $15 — AT&T price gouging. Where’s the regulation to stop that? Geez Apple… Do what’s best for users who are spending tons of money on apps and iPhones, etc. Or more of us Googlers will go to Android-enabled services!
I think contrary to public opinion, AT&T has Apple by the balls on iPhone
I think it’s time for Apple fanboys to stop looking for a scapegoat and admit that Apple is becoming a terrible company, and they have nobody but themselves to blame. I can’t wait for the day when European courts start issuing billion dollar fines for uncompetitive practices like they do to Microsoft. I think apple is way more guilty of trying to monopolize the market than Microsoft.
Speaking about monopolistic behaviour that shouldn’t bhe left unpunished by EU courts:
- itunes/ipod lock-in. Has been outrageously ridiculous for years and made ipod the biggest monopoly in mp3 player markets history.
- OSX not being available on any other hardware than Apple’s own. Inflating the price of products able to run software made to run on Apple products. Result, you want a 15″ notebook that runs apple software you have to pay $1999 and there is only one company making it, Apple.
- iphone being sold through illegal exclusive carrier monopolies. Locking sales with a single carrier is illegal for any phone maker in EU, yet Apple has done this repeatedly in Europe since the iphone 3G. Sue them!
- Apple insists NOT to support open standards of the web and of multimedia. DivX Mpeg 4 Simple Profile is not supported on any Apple product among ipod, iphone, Apple TV, yet represents 95% of downloaded videos from the Internet.
If it was illegal in the EU, would you be able to explain how virtually every UK carrier has its exclusive phones? Such as T-Mobile having the Sidekick for the last couple of years?
Generally, I agree with you and I won’t touch Apple with a ten-foot pole, but I’m not convinced you’re right on that point.
You can buy unlocked sidekicks in Europe to use on any other carrier. It is law.
Being from Germany, I can assure you that you’re wrong. Not all European countries are the same. Those deals are legal in most EU countries (although not in France, AFAIK, don’t know about Denmark).
In Germany, Vodafone sued T-Mobile over the exclusive contract. And lost.
Great post and very sad. I myself own a Pre (very happy with it) and hope that Palm doesn’t find itself in the same predicament with Sprint as does Apple with AT&T.
As we give companies (Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon -Kindle) more and more access and control to our content, habits, and worse personal information…I just can’t help, but think of how we are setting ourselves up for some really bad scenarios…oh well.
I hope Google updates its web-based Voice page. If it does, most people won’t really need the app.
I know it doesn’t solve the bigger problem, but it would help show that there are other options.
This is frustrating. Glad I bought Sean’s program before they pulled it.
i was hoping for “push” sms on the Google Voice app. It’s not clear to me how that can work with a web based app.
First Latitude now this? this is bizarre imo.
Don’t buy iPhones. You don’t get nothing special for the price you pay. You can do just the same with other platforms like Android, Symbian or BlackBerry.
How is it necessarily at&t’s fault? RIM hasn’t received any pressure from at&t to censor (oh yeah, I busted out the “c-word”) GV from the RIM App World – I use it all the time on my at&t-branded BlackBerry Bold.
I assume that GV was removed from the App Store in the UK and Canada, too. Can you blame at&t for that?
Stop covering for Apple. Apple has ALWAYS stifled innovation that wasn’t theirs.
How is Apple benefitting from this? Apple would love to have this app in the app store. It doesn’t cost them one bit in lost revenue if people are bypassing AT&T SMS or voice call charges. All they care about is selling more phones. It’s only AT&T that has anything to lose here.
average revenue per account goes down when people use voice for sms.
If Apple has nothing to lose when an app “duplicates function,” why do they ban apps that do so? Apple has *something* to lose here (although, at this point, all they’re losing is credibility and respect in the industry.)
apple isn’t benefitting from this except maybe showing their true colours. like someone said, it does look like at&fail has apple by the ball and chain and this whole incident, as well as some previously, doesn’t look good on apple (especially one that preaches innovation), so isaac leese is correct in saying that although apple isn’t benefitting, they are certainly losing their respect and credibility probably in the industry and among their customer base. there is already verizon+apple backlash and now there is at&fail+apple backlash. the whole thing is an unfortunate situation. not too bad for google, ms or other companies that benefit from these continuous failings of atthell+apple. sucks for developers.
Google Voice is only available in the US so I doubt GV needed to be removed from the App Store in the UK and Canada.
So yes I can still blame AT&T.
nobody gives a shit. Google blows.
If I had to choose between Google or Apple, I’d say Apple blows.
at least apple doesn’t want your DNA and health records.
Google = one hit wonder
If you count nearly everything the company has ever done as one hit, sure.
google for function, apple for form in most cases
Great article.
This is a disgusting move by Apple. There are going to be two groups of people, those who were pissed off by Microsoft and those by Apple, where will they go? To the Chrome OS.
They will/should go to Ubuntu, a true Open System. Microsoft and Apple losses will be Ubuntu’s gain, and once people have a taste of it, they won’t want to go back.
most people will never know what a disruptive force GV could have been on iPhone.
This is why you all need to jailbreak your iPhones. Mine runs on T-Mobile, I pay $60 a month for unlimited everything. Why the hell are you all still on AT&T, we all know they suck! My iPhone 2G 8GB can record video, send MMS, access my home server, and tether to my Netbook.
GET OFF AT&T!!!!!!!!!!
T-MOBILE RULES!!!!!
T Mobile may give you more minutes for your money but that’s because it takes twice as long to carry out a convo.
“Yeah I need those docs…hello? Are you there? Oh OK the signal cut out. I need those docs by tomorrow morn…hello? Hello? I’ll have to tcal you…(click)”
I agreed but then my phone was so bad I couldn’t bear it (my phone not tmo) so I got iPhone 3gs and didn’t know what I was missing! I never wanted to send mms and there’s tethering hack without computer or jailbreak for tether I’d post link but on my iPhone
WOW!!!! was an iphone user since day one..
Made the switch to android a month back and the integration between google voice, guava & android is simply amazing.
I can honestly see why ATT would be so afraid as to allow google voice on their smash hit iphone.
But overall I am glad i left the iphone. Such an amazing piece of hardware seriously crippled beyond no repair.
I am getting a pre tomorrow (company phone) And I cant wait to try it out.
With this in place no matter what apple releases not going back.
Devs are getting shafted left and right. Sad day.
While I am no fan of GoOgle, I’m bothered as heck by this step by Apple. I’m especially bothered, if it’s true, that Apple would let AT&T finagle them thataway.
GoOgle after all has its hands in Apple’s pockets too, as far as THAT goes: look whose search engine is locked in to the Safari browser bar and who gets paid for those clicked search results!
Apple needs to get out of the app-censoring business (both for and against both AT&T *and* GoOgle). They’ve got enough APPL in their wallets *already*!
It looks like you have a problem with capslock.
Google – Get the f#$k off of Apple. Yes, your phone is a POS so you have to put your apps on a better platform. Fix your phone before you fix this! And to all the Apple haters (especially those who own iPhones), STFU! Quit whining!
Oh come on.. iPhone and Apple Fanboys really need to come out of their cocoons and at least be open to the fact that this “may” have nothing to do with AT&T at all.
I seriously doubt that AT&T would have been able to convince Apple of doing something Apple didn’t want to do itself.
I believe this has either to do with Apple’s own plans or Apple is just getting back at Google for having come up with Android and ChromeOS.
All Google has to do to get back is stop serving map tiles to iPhones. Or otherwise cripple the Google experience for iPhone users while making it more attractive for everything else (including Pre). That would be awesome.
Yeah, and add YouTube to that list. Ooops!
apple made the YouTube app for iPhone…curious how they pick the ugliest old-fashioned TV icon they could find for it.
But Google converted all of those videos in youtube to be compatible for the iPhone.
Apple is giving reasons to people to jailbreak their phones and use the lovely features like using GV to save cell phone minutes (http://truvoipb...es-tips-tricks/) or sending free sms, etc…
this is a must have per the terms of the mtual exclusivity agreement between apple and ATT.
Wow. so much irony to say here. Apple is the new Microsoft, limiting the user’s freedom of choice.
Google Android & myTouch 3G, here I come!
Not really. Apple is just being, well, Apple.
And history will repeat itself. As long as Apple exercises their second-to-none stranglehold on the platform, Apple’s platform will never dominate an application-centric market as Microsoft’s platform (its operating systems) does.
Ultimately, an application-centric market favors choices, possibilities and “freedom”. Eventually, if Apple doesn’t adjust itself, competing platforms that embrace these crucial aspects will overtake the iPhone, which so far is benefiting from its first-mover advantage.
Apples has lost it, someone should sue those morons for monopoly bloody idiots
I LOVE my G1 with Google Voice & GV app. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Google, for having the foresight to develop this platform. not only is it unlimited SMS for free, it’s also visual voicemail, voicemail as email/text, a universal phone number, cheap international rates, and on and on! I am so glad I switched from AT&T (bad service, overpriced, poor coverage in my area) to Tmobile. I also have my desk phone, work cell phone, and home phone all forwarded to my G1, with one voicemail, and when I get a call, ALL of my phones ring so I can just grab whatever’s closest. AND IT’S FREE, PEOPLE. Plus the tmobile G1 monthly rates are about $30 less than the Iphone’s.
AT&T can get f$%@ed.
It is sad and confusing to see why Apple is taking such steps. I am guessing that there were some big reasons behind such a decision (MONEY)….but shouldn’t Apple be more loyal to its customers that another company that is just trying to squeeze people.
Being an iPhone app developer it is kind of scary because Apple can ruin months of development by adding a stupid clause and puling your app.
Another annoying thing has been the crazy app review time. Imagine spending 2 months to build an app and then wait for 3 months to have Apple approve it, only to remove it from the store for some odd reason.
Do you think a petition on Twitter to improve the review process and make it more transparent will have any effect or will it just fall on deaf ears???
do it. this is sad times for devs. apparently apple cares about it’s customers…and we all know that apple is not some cowering company that allows at&fail to hold it’s balls hostage…so go ahead. it doesn’t hurt to try at all and i’m sure you’ll get people who are with you, but some people might think it’s stupid, and it really isn’t. at&fail i could care less about because they don’t give a sh*t about their customer service relations, and i speak from experience as a former client…but i discovered there is something more evil than at&fail and that is sprint/sprint-nextel now. sprint is a huge flaming pos.
apple needs to look to the future. they can’t stay the same forever (even though they do try while at the same time preaching innovation) because at some point there has to be a break. everything happens in due course.
Whatever. There would be no interesting hand-held devices on the planet without Apple. Let them run their business the way they want to. Poll iPhone users that have central nervous systems and you won’t find anybody desperate to have Google voice. Go get an Android phone and quit crying.
You Apple zombies are hilarious.
There was interesting handhelds before iphones, Apple merely did what they always do, a great interface.
thats why AT&T cut it off now, it’s one of those things that if it’s potential where widely understood it would give Google loads of power and tremendous leverage.
Google is one or two chess moves away from becoming a new kind of Telco.
what do you think this is going:
GV+Android+Clearwire
or even:
GV+Android+WhiteSpaces
There were and are loads of interesting handhelds before the iphone. Actually, just take a look at some of the handhelds in the Japanese market to see how far behind western handhelds are.
The difference though is they focused on hardware functionality and are only now coming to see the need for good software functionality.
Apple, in creating the iphone didn’t really bring much new to the table.. all they did was make it sexy with a great interface…