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BREAKING: FCC Looking Into AT&T Rejection of Google Voice App

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avigalante

avigalante

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 18, 2007
425
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New York City
__________________________________
Technology Alert
from The Wall Street Journal


The Federal Communications Commission has launched an inquiry to AT&T Inc. and Apple over the rejection of Google's voice application for the popular iPhone.

In letters sent late Friday to the three companies, the FCC asked why Apple rejected the Google Voice application for the iPhone and removed related "third-party applications" from its store. The letter also seeks information on how AT&T was consulted in the decision,
if at all.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124908121794098073.html#mod=djemalertTECH
 
1Zach1

1Zach1

macrumors 65816
Feb 8, 2008
1,210
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Northern Va
rjohnstone said:
I don't see why AT&T would be involved. :confused:
They already allow it on any other device that supports it.
Click to expand...

Seems to me AT&T is more directly effected by Google Voice than Apple is but maybe I'm misunderstanding how the Apple/AT&T relationship works.
 
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Pattycerts

macrumors 6502
Jul 4, 2007
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0
AT&T also 'allows' Slingbox to run on every other phone but the iPhone.

The app store is the only place where AT&T can deny apps' availability.
 
T

The General

macrumors 601
Jul 7, 2006
4,825
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Why does AT&T even care? Google Voice isn't a VoIP service. All of the calls still use AT&T minutes. I don't see what the big deal is.
 
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samcraig

macrumors P6
Jun 22, 2009
16,779
41,982
USA
The General said:
Why does AT&T even care? Google Voice isn't a VoIP service. All of the calls still use AT&T minutes. I don't see what the big deal is.
Click to expand...

Do we actually KNOW it was AT&T? I mean - has it been stated as fact. Or just opinion/rumor/etc?
 
B

brian doherty

macrumors member
Oct 30, 2007
63
0
Google Voice allows free text messages. AT&T could lose out on $20 unlimited texting plans.

But I just got my Google Voice invite and would love to have an easier way to use it than going to through Safari. My GV number is going to be for my freelance busines =D
 
S

samab

macrumors 6502a
Mar 27, 2006
863
0
It's all biting Google back in the ass --- because the FCC investigation includes the inquiry of how Google rejects apps in the Android store.
 
maflynn

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,448
43,370
Lets call a spade a spade. It wasn't AT&T that rejected it but apple. Now AT&T may have had hand in the matter but the bottom line is that apple rejected the app and must deal with the problems it created.
 
Rodimus Prime

Rodimus Prime

macrumors G4
Oct 9, 2006
10,136
4
Well it going out to AT&T and apple. AT&T only involvement in that is just going to be to state that they did not have a say in it and they are allowing it. FCC is going to ask AT&T for the information and it is just that.

Apple on the other hand will be the one who has to answer for it.
 
mkrishnan

mkrishnan

Moderator emeritus
Jan 9, 2004
29,776
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Grand Rapids, MI, USA
maflynn said:
Lets call a spade a spade. It wasn't AT&T that rejected it but apple. Now AT&T may have had hand in the matter but the bottom line is that apple rejected the app and must deal with the problems it created.
Click to expand...

This, hopefully, is what the FCC investigation will determine... I mean, that's the whole point of doing an investigation, is it not? To find out who was responsible and whether the decision was made in a lawful or unlawful manner? So let them do their job...

I personally think it's probably a good thing. I mean, with the exponentially expanding market Apple has created, government oversight and some rules of fair play were kind of inevitable... hopefully whatever results will make the App Store even better for the consumer.
 
nutmac

nutmac

macrumors 603
Mar 30, 2004
6,053
7,315
I enjoy using Google Voice, so I look forward to using it on my iPhone without resorting to clumsy web interface on Safari.

That said, I am conflicted. It is the very same FCC that allowed the creation of anti-competitive US mobile market in the first place, allowing Cingular to buy AT&T Wireless, Sprint buy Nextel, Verizon Wireless buy Alltel, and so on. Prior to these mergers, the industry was actively engaged in offering better plans. SMS were 10 cents each, and on AT&T Wireless, incoming SMS were free. I remember Sprint offering fair and flexible plans and all the major carriers enticed consumers with new and better plans every holiday seasons.

Today, FCC allows just about every cell phone mergers and acquisitions to go through, as well as allowing them to double SMS charge, mandate expensive data service on certain phones (but not on others), and allowing them to charge expensive 3G data plan without providing consistent and reliable coverage. Fixing Apple's inconsistent App Store policies would be a good start at restoring my faith, but they have a long way to go.
 
S

sinsin07

macrumors 68040
Mar 28, 2009
3,606
2,662
Pattycerts said:
AT&T also 'allows' Slingbox to run on every other phone but the iPhone.

The app store is the only place where AT&T can deny apps' availability.
Click to expand...

How does ATT allow Slingbox on other phones? If you install it on a ATT Winmobile phone, that does not mean they allow it, they just don't do anything to stop it.
 
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