Google's own Google Voice app rejected [Archive]

str1f3

Jul 27, 2009, 09:05 PM

Apparently Google's first party app has been rejected and it's ATT's fault. Last year, the lead guy developing the project got a personal assurance from Phil Schiller no less that the app will be approved. When the app was rejected Schiller had to give the guy a personal apology. Google originally submitted the app six weeks ago.

Full story on TechCrunch: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/27/apple-is-growing-rotten-to-the-core-and-its-likely-atts-fault/

AT&T is a pice of sh** and I can't wait for Apple to cut ties with them. I'm curious also as to what happens when the first Android phone hits AT&T.

duelingdragons

Jul 27, 2009, 09:44 PM

lol.. AT&T = joke company

Strategy

Jul 27, 2009, 09:47 PM

Son of a bitch. I was really looking forward to googles official app.

dukebound85

Jul 27, 2009, 09:47 PM

i have the gracd central app that really is like the same thing

makes no sense

-aggie-

Jul 27, 2009, 09:52 PM

What else would you expect AT&T to do? "It allows users to send free SMS messages and get cheap long-distance over Google Voice’s lines."

bruinsrme

Jul 27, 2009, 09:55 PM

Maybe Google should resubmit it as a Tip Calculator

strike1555

Jul 27, 2009, 10:03 PM

I hate ATT as much as the next guy but if they are the ones stopping it- how come Blackberrys on ATT have this app? Surely iPhone users taking "more bandwidth" can't be the only reason for it.

aethelbert

Jul 27, 2009, 10:06 PM

Seems that I was a few hours late on GV Mobile, now this... awesome. More BS from Apple with their control on this fishtank garbage. This has nothing to do with AT&T, or else it could be released on a foreign store if it wasn't rejected due to the App Store's terms of use.

DeuceDeuce

Jul 27, 2009, 10:06 PM

I hate ATT as much as the next guy but if they are the ones stopping it- how come Blackberrys on ATT have this app? Surely iPhone users taking "more bandwidth" can't be the only reason for it.

I think its because there is no way for Blackberry to stop people from installing it. If Google developed an app and released it to the jailbreak community AT&T couldn't do squat then either. The problem is the only way to legitimately get apps on your iphone without JB is via the app store and they can put pressure on Apple on that front.

Pika

Jul 27, 2009, 10:08 PM

What else would you expect AT&T to do? "It allows users to send free SMS messages and get cheap long-distance over Google Voice’s lines."

AT&T is banning 4Chan

hitekalex

Jul 27, 2009, 10:44 PM

You can still use GV over Google's mobile web app. Yes it's not as elegant as "native" iPhone app, but it does the job fine. Every feature of GV is supported.

Nice thing about web apps is that there isn't a squat Apple or AT&T can do about them.

Slip Jigs

Jul 27, 2009, 10:57 PM

ruinfx

Jul 27, 2009, 11:10 PM

I hate ATT as much as the next guy but if they are the ones stopping it- how come Blackberrys on ATT have this app? Surely iPhone users taking "more bandwidth" can't be the only reason for it.

AT&T has no control over how applications get onto blackberrys. this is the same reason skype is unrestricted on other mobile platforms, but crippled on the iphone.

inbrissy

Jul 27, 2009, 11:11 PM

Apple's Contract obligations are similar to what they have in Netherlands.

In Netherlands they have a contract only with one Telco. There is no way to an iPhone other then on a contract with the one Telco.

I'm sure that these contracts were put in place as a start to get the iPhone sold world wide. Now that the demand is big for the iPhone, Apple will be able to start taking some control back in the deals they made before.

I doubt that now the iPhone is so popular, that Apple will renew any of those contracts that limits them to such an extent.

If indeed its AT&T stopping this, I doubt they're going to have that leverage for long.

The rumor was that the reason no GPS Navigation software made it onto the iPhone was because of the contract Apple had with Google over Maps.

Something will happen. Google Voice will make it onto the iPhone sooner or later.

ltldrummerboy

Jul 27, 2009, 11:12 PM

Of course they start pulling GV apps on the same day I get my invite. Isn't that always the way it goes?

aethelbert

Jul 27, 2009, 11:16 PM

Of course they start pulling GV apps on the same day I get my invite. Isn't that always the way it goes?
It is, of course. I waited until three hours too late to get a payment cleared with paypal over the phone when I could have done it much earlier. Murphy's laws apply here, as everywhere else.

str1f3

Jul 27, 2009, 11:31 PM

This is beginning to be a long list of apps that are crippled by AT&T. Every time this garbage happens it cripples the iPhone against competitors. The App Store is a great experience but it means nothing if you can't use the apps the way you want to. This is going to come to a head sooner or later. Either these apps start making it into the store or people will eventually moving away from the iPhone.

For all the greatness of the App Store it seems that their competitors main strength is being able to add apps w/o an App Store. It may be less safe but if you stick to the mainstream apps you'll have a more full featured phone outside the control of the carriers.

I hope that the next deal Apple makes, they don't allow the carrier to have any control over what apps are accepted.

frolo

Jul 27, 2009, 11:44 PM

I finally got an invite a few weeks ago. I saw the 3rd party apps but I held back thinking Google is going to release their own app. Now I find out Apple rejected the official app and yanked the 3rd party ones. Great... :mad:

spyda

Jul 27, 2009, 11:56 PM

How the **** can you deny Google? I'm disgusted with AT&T's despicable imbecile behavior.

rotten :apple: quit serving as AT&T's personal b!tch!

aethelbert

Jul 28, 2009, 12:01 AM

This is beginning to be a long list of apps that are crippled by AT&T. Every time this garbage happens it cripples the iPhone against competitors.
This has little, if anything, to do with AT&T. The GV Mobile app was rejected because it was "duplicating features that the iPhone comes with;" I doubt that this is any different. If this was completely AT&T's doing, it would be available elsewhere, not to mention that they would have wanted such apps pulled/rejected a long time ago. Apple is in on this, too, no doubt. It's not any of AT&T's concern or business what appears on the Swiss, South African, et al, app stores.

The General

Jul 28, 2009, 12:02 AM

AT&T is banning 4Chan

Not anymore. That only lasted for like 6 hours. The reason they blocked img.4chan.org is because there was a massive DDoS attack coming from that IP address, which is said to have been AnonTalk spoofing their IPs to look like img.4chan.org.

It was a totally reasonable thing to do. This Google Voice thing, however, is not.

MikhailT

Jul 28, 2009, 12:04 AM

Don't worry guys, eventually this will be a thing of the past. AT&T is only pissing Apple off with this and Apple is the one making more money and have the power to bring iPhone over to other telcos. AT&T will lose more money from losing the customers over to competitors then they will lose from having third party apps giving out free SMS, VOIP, GV and so on. Eventually the cellular network will become purely a data utility like the Internet ISPs, and we'll switch over to VOIP, once that happens, AT&T will lose unless they embrace it.

AT&T is trying to get the most money they can now from SMS and overcharges, eventually that'll be a thing of the past as well.

The question is when? I guess within the next 20 years or so.

MikhailT

Jul 28, 2009, 12:10 AM

aethelbert

Jul 28, 2009, 12:24 AM

As for being available elsewhere, Google Voice is only available for the US market.
Me being a likely exception, I run two US phones while out of the country. It has forwarded to my work phone (+41) without issue, though I am charged to be connected through it. It seems that the only issue is that it isn't available to generate numbers outside of the United States.

str1f3

Jul 28, 2009, 12:29 AM

This has little, if anything, to do with AT&T. The GV Mobile app was rejected because it was "duplicating features that the iPhone comes with;" I doubt that this is any different. If this was completely AT&T's doing, it would be available elsewhere, not to mention that they would have wanted such apps pulled/rejected a long time ago. Apple is in on this, too, no doubt. It's not any of AT&T's concern or business what appears on the Swiss, South African, et al, app stores.

It has plenty to do with AT&T and Apple deserves some of the blame. This app was assured acceptance by the #3 man at Apple personally. Schiller even apologized to the man after it was rejected. It is clear the pressure was coming outside of Apple.

The US has always controlled what the rest of the world gets in the App Store as evident of the crippling by the crippling of the Slingbox app. Because AT&T wanted no 3G support that meant everyone else in the world didn't get it either. There are no separate versions for apps in the App Store. If an app is crippled in the US, it is crippled everywhere.

It's funny hearing people complain that Verizon wants it's own App Store for their phones because we already have it. It appears that AT&T exercises full control over the app approval process. They have more control over the velvet rope than Apple.

aethelbert

Jul 28, 2009, 12:34 AM

The US has always controlled what the rest of the world gets in the App Store as evidenced of the crippling of the Slingbox app. Because AT&T wanted no 3G support that meant everyone else in the world didn't get it either.
Developers can specify the countries that they want their apps sold in, and they are able to exclude the US. Now if that is done, what can AT&T have to say about it? It'd be interesting to see how true the above actually is this way if something is resubmitted leaving the US out. I would go to say that the app would probably be denied again, even though AT&T would have no say in its status.

ilovefanboyz

Jul 28, 2009, 12:37 AM

It has plenty to do with AT&T and Apple deserves some of the blame. This app was assured acceptance by the #3 man at Apple personally. Schiller even apologized to the man after it was rejected. It is clear the pressure was coming outside of Apple.

The US has always controlled what the rest of the world gets in the App Store as evidenced of the crippling of the Slingbox app. Because AT&T wanted no 3G support that meant everyone else in the world didn't get it either. There are no separate versions for apps in the App Store. If an app is crippled in the US, it is crippled everywhere.

It's funny hearing people complain that Verizon wants it's own App Store for their phones because we already have it. It appears that AT&T exercises full control over the app approval process. They have more control over the velvet rope than Apple does.

Apple are disgusting when it comes to control. I know everyone here thinks Apple are innocent here, but they are not. Apple doesnt like anything stepping on their toes; why do you think Netflix took years to get to Mac? Because Apple wouldnt license their DRM tools. What about DIVX on Apple TV? Oh, and Blu Ray.. LOL

Why is everyone surprised?

Oh and if you think Spotify will get through.. You're embarrassing yourself. But that will be AT&T's fault right? Fools....

str1f3

Jul 28, 2009, 01:04 AM

Developers can specify the countries that they want their apps sold in, and they are able to exclude the US. Now if that is done, what can AT&T have to say about it? It'd be interesting to see how true the above actually is this way if something is resubmitted leaving the US out. I would go to say that the app would probably be denied again, even though AT&T would have no say in its status.

The US has at least 60% of all iPhone users. Why is Googe or anyone else going to release an app excluding a majority of iPhone users if it is not a language issue. Google simply won't bother. I'm not even sure how widely available Google Voice is around the world. It's essentially pointless.

Apple has no vested interest in Google Voice rejected. The revenue sharing deal is over now. It clearly affects the carrier. Having a single non carrier phone number means you are no longer tied to that carrier for that phone number. You can also send free SMS's which AT&T constantly robs us on.

Apple deserves blame as well but its for shaking hands with the devil and not allowing apps on the store for frivolous reasons.

muledogus

Jul 28, 2009, 07:36 AM

No flaws or anything have really made me mad with my iPhone thus far but this really makes me mad. We can access GV from the web, they can't stop us from texting from there, they already approved GV Mobile and Voicecentral and even though they now pulled those off what difference did they find in Google's to decide to pull them all? Though I'm glad I installed GV Mobile when I did last week, it's not really doing it for me and I was really looking forward to an official Google app. Hopefully Apple comes around.

kwjohns

Jul 28, 2009, 07:42 AM

Argh! This really angers me. I had been looking forward to using this and was just invited yesterday, too. Now the service feels dead to me. :mad:

kicko

Jul 28, 2009, 08:39 AM

whats funny is that the GV (unoffical) app was in the store for like a year and now it gets pulled because the offical app is rejected.

The best thing we as users can do is keep voicing ours opinions often and loudly. If there is enough of a stink they will change their minds.

ct2k7

Jul 28, 2009, 08:44 AM

I'm with AT&T all the way :D

kas23

Jul 28, 2009, 08:51 AM

The rumor was that the reason no GPS Navigation software made it onto the iPhone was because of the contract Apple had with Google over Maps.

I don't agree. Apple doesn't have a "contract" with Google to use their maps. Anyone can write an app and incorporate Google Maps - they're free. The real reason for the delay was probably because AT&T didn't have their GPS subscription service/app ready. Kind of funny, GPS is allowed and then AT&T has the first App out. It makes you wonder who really is making the decisions about this phone? I can't wait until exclusivity is over. It's sort of like indentured servitude.

TMade09

Jul 28, 2009, 09:05 AM

What happens if you have the unofficial GV app on your phone? Does it disappear next time you sync?

billchase2

Jul 28, 2009, 09:29 AM

I was definitely looking forward to this as well.

What garbage.

alent1234

Jul 28, 2009, 09:45 AM

I don't agree. Apple doesn't have a "contract" with Google to use their maps. Anyone can write an app and incorporate Google Maps - they're free. The real reason for the delay was probably because AT&T didn't have their GPS subscription service/app ready. Kind of funny, GPS is allowed and then AT&T has the first App out. It makes you wonder who really is making the decisions about this phone? I can't wait until exclusivity is over. It's sort of like indentured servitude.

you think Verizon is any better? go read howardforums about how VZ locks some phones down, makes you buy special VZ cables to connect to a PC to grab photos off your phone, charges extra to unlock bluetooth, etc etc

iphone isn't perfect but it's a lot better than Verizon. at least with the iphone i can put any movie file on it and play it or buy a movie through itunes and keep it for myself. with VZ and it's Get it Now you are screwed.

This is just AT&T fighting off Google that likes to leech on other companies' networks and content

PaulieORF

Jul 28, 2009, 10:04 AM

I think I've just about had it with the control Apple has here, and the way AT&T uses their relationship to do this. Cripple SlingPlayer, cripple Skype, block Google Voice, etc. I"m getting a myTouch 3G next week when it's released, and odds are I'll be leaving AT&T.

I remember thinking when the App Store was first launched that stuff like this would end up happening, and sure enough it's happening over and over again.

I know it's not Apple, it's AT&T. I will no longer be giving my business to AT&T. I understand I'll be getting less of a phone, but I will not support this crap any longer.

macmadandproud

Jul 28, 2009, 10:07 AM

Um, not sure whether you guys have noticed yet... but the google Voice website, which always worked just fine in Safari on the iPhone, now says "your phone is not supported"!!

They really do suck... and I can't believe that they can get away with such anti-competitive practices... :mad:

jacobgaul

Jul 28, 2009, 10:14 AM

lol @ all you att haters if u got a problem with att then drop your service and go pickup your locked down vzw phone. im happy with att and im glad they have the iphone my discount is amazing and i rarely have call issues. it sucks they MAY have had a hand in the rejection but such is life.. im sure it will be on cyida (gv dialer, gv mobile) at least.

tjp888

Jul 28, 2009, 10:16 AM

More customer dis-satisfaction from Apple.

I've been using Sean Kovac's DV Mobile for almost 2 weeks now. It's great as it gives quick access to my GV voicemail, settings, etc.

So, is Apple going to do what Amazon did with the Kindle recently and remotely remove my DV Mobile application?

TroyBoy30

Jul 28, 2009, 10:17 AM

just as much apples fault as att. love how you guys always point the finger at att 1st. apple could never do anything wrong right!

jacobgaul

Jul 28, 2009, 10:31 AM

just as much apples fault as att. love how you guys always point the finger at att 1st. apple could never do anything wrong right!

funny isnt it?

str1f3

Jul 28, 2009, 10:49 AM

just as much apples fault as att. love how you guys always point the finger at att 1st. apple could never do anything wrong right!

It is as much Apple's fault as AT&T. It is their product. It ultimately, though, doesn't matter who's fault it is. Either way the iPhone doesn't have the most significant apps and those they have are crippled. I'll leave it up to the consumer as to which they prefer: A beautiful product in hardware and software or a phone which uses apps to their fullest potential.

PaulieORF

Jul 28, 2009, 10:56 AM

just as much apples fault as att. love how you guys always point the finger at att 1st. apple could never do anything wrong right!

Let's put it this way. If Apple didn't have agreements with carriers and just sold the iPhone as an unlocked phone you put your SIM card into, we wouldn't have any of these problems. SlingPlayer and Skype would work over cellular data, and Google Voice would likely be in the App Store. AT&T is the biggest problem here, and Apple has to do what AT&T says as far as these apps go.

TLewis

Jul 28, 2009, 10:57 AM

It's not the end of the world. As others have said, you can still access Google voice's mobile web page. Bookmark this in your iPhone:
https://www.google.com/voice/m
Yes, it's not as nice as a native app, but it's not bad, either. There does, however, seem to be an issue accessing google contacts --for some reason, most of mine aren't accessible from the GV mobile web page.

(side note: https is recommended)

ChazUK

Jul 28, 2009, 11:06 AM

Come on people, don't complain. As long as we have planty of this (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=293760823&mt=8) then we will never need a stupid Google voice app.

<For those not accustomed to sarcasm, the text above this is just that>

str1f3

Jul 28, 2009, 11:14 AM

Let's put it this way. If Apple didn't have agreements with carriers and just sold the iPhone as an unlocked phone you put your SIM card into, we wouldn't have any of these problems. SlingPlayer and Skype would work over cellular data, and Google Voice would likely be in the App Store. AT&T is the biggest problem here, and Apple has to do what AT&T says as far as these apps go.

It doesn't matter. It is still Apple's fault. This is the Apple iPhone. They are still signing exclusive deals (see China Unicom). The best solution is for this phone to be available on all carriers. Instead Apple is going for the cash and crapping on its users in the process. Apple's greed is turning them into M$.

PaulieORF

Jul 28, 2009, 11:18 AM

It doesn't matter. It is still Apple's fault. This is the Apple iPhone. They are still signing exclusive deals (see China Unicom). The best solution is for this phone to be available on all carriers. Instead Apple is going for the cash and crapping on its users in the process. Apple's greed is turning them into M$.

I agree on this.

Pooshka

Jul 28, 2009, 12:44 PM

I've still got the free version of GV Mobile.app. So wanted to upgrade to the paid one. Does anyone happen to remember what the difference was?

MikhailT

Jul 28, 2009, 12:46 PM

I don't agree. Apple doesn't have a "contract" with Google to use their maps. Anyone can write an app and incorporate Google Maps - they're free. The real reason for the delay was probably because AT&T didn't have their GPS subscription service/app ready. Kind of funny, GPS is allowed and then AT&T has the first App out. It makes you wonder who really is making the decisions about this phone? I can't wait until exclusivity is over. It's sort of like indentured servitude.

Did you miss the iPhone 3.0 OS Preview video? Apple stated very clearly that they have a contract with Google for using their Maps and those maps can't be used for GPS developers at all. Those maps are licensed to Apple only, and using their Map App to get direction or location is not the same as actually using the maps. Devs are allowed to call on Map API as wrapper (calling location data and map app returning the value as a pic of the map with the pin on it), but they're not allowed to use the maps itself.

Also just because Google Maps is free does not mean a dev can do anything with it. People have to follow their TOS and APIs and there are limits to how much transactions can occur.

Apple IIRC didn't allow GPS apps because there was no GPS API in place before 3.0. Apple do not like people using undocumented APIs.

avaloncourt

Jul 28, 2009, 12:47 PM

whats funny is that the GV (unoffical) app was in the store for like a year and now it gets pulled because the offical app is rejected.

One year? Four months... you were close. Kinda. Well, not really. :D

http://www.seankovacs.com/index.php/gv-mobile/

hitekalex

Jul 28, 2009, 01:12 PM

I've still got the free version of GV Mobile.app. So wanted to upgrade to the paid one. Does anyone happen to remember what the difference was?

Yeah, the paid app supports full GV features like SMS, voicemail.. Free app is just a basic dialer.

But you don't need either of these - just use Google Web page. The only advantage of stand alone apps over Google web page is a pretty GUI.

outz

Jul 28, 2009, 02:04 PM

i just noticed gv mobile was released to cydia - fyi.

hitekalex

Jul 28, 2009, 02:13 PM

i just noticed gv mobile was released to cydia - fyi.

Yep, and it's free. There is a long discussion on Sean's blog about that.

Anyone still needs a reason to jailbreak? ;)

kicko

Jul 28, 2009, 02:30 PM

One year? Four months... you were close. Kinda. Well, not really. :D

http://www.seankovacs.com/index.php/gv-mobile/

too bad i was exaggerating and not speaking as a matter of fact. Remember when people did that? ;)

avaloncourt

Jul 28, 2009, 03:37 PM

too bad i was exaggerating and not speaking as a matter of fact. Remember when people did that? ;)

Your post reads more like you were clueless. Nothing in that post indicates exaggeration. Sorry.

hitekalex

Jul 28, 2009, 04:34 PM

Your post reads more like you were clueless. Nothing in that post indicates exaggeration. Sorry.

Could we have a particular smilie that can indicate exaggeration? While at it, add one for sarcasm too.

TLewis

Jul 28, 2009, 04:56 PM

Could we have a particular smilie that can indicate exaggeration? While at it, add one for sarcasm too.
We have:
:rolleyes: :D :p
In particular, note the first one, which is "sarcastic". :cool:

Mademan12321

Jul 28, 2009, 05:50 PM

I'm with AT&T all the way :D

You would fanboy

thetexan

Aug 2, 2009, 02:34 PM

AT&T does not manage or approve applications for the App Store. We have received the letter and will, of course, respond to it.Customers can use any compatible GSM phone on our network, not just the ones we've approved and sell. And they also can use apps we don't approve. We don't approve iPhone applications.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/01/AR2009080101074.html?referrer=digg

Never was sure why everyone was blaming AT&T for this one, they can't control what Apple does in iTunes. AT&T is wiping their hands of this matter and rightfully throwing Apple under the bus. Sorry folks, this is 100% Apple.

kas23

Aug 2, 2009, 04:09 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/01/AR2009080101074.html?referrer=digg

Never was sure why everyone was blaming AT&T for this one, they can't control what Apple does in iTunes. AT&T is wiping their hands of this matter and rightfully throwing Apple under the bus. Sorry folks, this is 100% Apple.

I know this may be hearsay or not AT&T's "official" position, but this would disagree with AT&T not managing or approving apps in the App Store.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=7648911&postcount=1

Basically, AT&T has a "say" in what is approved/rejected in the App Store to help them enforce their terms of service.

avaloncourt

Aug 2, 2009, 04:23 PM

And they also can use apps we don't approve. We don't approve iPhone applications.

Then I guess we have to asked why NetShare was immediately removed since AT&T doesn't participate in the approval process. :rolleyes: :)

I'm thinking that they're sweeping this all under Apple's rug since they're the ones with the mouse-button over the yes/no. I'm sure they can influence anything they want or we'd be able to Skype over 3G or any other application that limited to WiFi only.

charliehustle

Aug 2, 2009, 05:23 PM

I wish google would make an app that would run on jailbroken phones to **** at&t and apple over..

Digipimp

Aug 3, 2009, 01:22 AM

I wish google would make an app that would run on jailbroken phones to **** at&t and apple over..

Not likely ever. This is a win win situation for Google right now. More publicity for Android and Google Voice and how they arent tied to a specific carrier. Apple has got some major moves to make now as the competition has caught up to where the iPhone and its OS have gone. Think of this

Microsoft with Windows always spoke of the massive amount of applications and games available on Windows but not on Macs. We liked Macs because they ran better and generally had a decent selection of software but the OS was much better. Now we're in a reverse position with the iPhone and its OS, the iPhone OS is being limited and over controlled and Apple tells us well you have tons and tons of apps, while Google is pushing Android as being open and better featured OS only with limited apps at the moment.

Apple needs to get on the right side of this issue, they're currently on the wrong side and I think Jobs knows that and will make it happen.

severe

Aug 3, 2009, 03:42 AM

I wish google would make an app that would run on jailbroken phones to **** at&t and apple over..

I may be mistaken, but isn't this old news?

Google Voice app GV Mobile ported to jailbroken iPhones, web app version in the works (http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/28/google-voice-app-gv-mobile-ported-to-jailbroken-iphones-web-app/)