NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Apple on Friday responded to an inquiry from the Federal Communications Commission by offering information about why it had pulled an iPhone application developed by Google. According to Apple, the Google Voice app interfered with the core functionality of the iPhone, specifically the phone’s voice mail system, and it also caused issues with features like text messaging and disrupted the built-in address book.Apple claims that it has not outright abandoned the Google Voice application, however.
“Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application, and continues to study it,” said Apple through a company statement. “The application has not been approved because, as submitted for review, it appears to alter the iPhone’s distinctive user experience by replacing the iPhone’s core mobile telephone functionality and Apple user interface with its own user interface for telephone calls, text messaging and voicemail. […] In addition, the iPhone user’s entire Contacts database is transferred to Google’s servers, and we have yet to obtain any assurances from Google that this data will only be used in appropriate ways. These factors present several new issues and questions to us that we are still pondering at this time.”
According to Wired.com, Google’s response to the FCC was submitted via a confidential filing, and their side of the story was blacked out in the public response.
Some online bloggers had speculated that AT&T, the sole provider of service to iPhone subscribers, had applied pressure on Apple to reject what would be seen as a competing service. “It’s not hard to guess who’s behind the restriction: our old friend AT&T,” wrote Jason Kincaid on TechCrunch.com. But AT&T responded to the FCC by claiming that it had nothing to do with Apple’s decision.
“AT&T was not asked about the matter by Apple at any time, nor did it offer any view one way or the other,” read the statement from AT&T. “More broadly, AT&T does not own, operate or control the Apple App Store and is not typically consulted regarding the approval or rejection of applications for the App Store or informed when an application is approved or rejected. Furthermore, AT&T does not block consumers from accessing any lawful website on the Internet.”
Many iPhone app developers have expressed frustration with the app approval process, and apps with adult content are generally not allowed. According to the New York Times, “Apple receives 8,500 new applications and updates to applications each week. The company employs a team of 40 full-time trained reviewers, and each application is independently evaluated by two separate reviewers before getting a green light. The company said that 95 percent of iPhone applications are approved within 14 days of being submitted.”
