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It gets better than just this GV debate...

http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/18/fcc-to-propose-new-net-neutrality-rule-disallowing-data-discrimi/

Its good to see the FCC in action against this type of stuff.

Another good thing (Although I am deeply concerned that either the FFC doesn't have the teeth, it will get astroturfed by the cable and phone lobbyists, or will just get overturned when the Republicans get back in power just like last time).

Net Neutrality is very important.
 
Core whatever!

Apple is obsessed with cores: core 2 duo, core location, core graphics and etc. Now we don't even know they have this core dialer what's this? Oh yeah some kind of Apple's super high tech phone dialer whatever. How about Skype, they don't access the core dialer? I can't wait to hear the real reason of denying Google Voice it gonna be AT&T behind all of this. I want FCC bust AT&T's ass so they learn from their greediness. Apple will get in trouble too for being sucker. Don't get me wrong I still love their products as long that it is proven that AT&T is behind all of this, because they are the real evil. They only two reasons I'm with them is because they bought Cingular and the iPhone exclusivity. Go FCC show to us that you're serving the public instead of being known as...
 
You make a good point. Except that you don't see me whining ad infinitum about something that is part-and-parcel of the Apple way of doing things to begin with, and which has been this way for years now.

There's a price to pay for the "Apple experience." Always has been. Total openness and transparency is not one of the ideals (and never was) that are high on Apple's list or priorities. It's a closed system. But one that manages to be far, far more attractive and usable than all the others out there.

Apple is no more closed/restricitve today than it was five years ago. In fact, it has opened up in some ways. There are just more products in the Apple lineup and more fingers in the Apple pie that need to be regulated, placated, controlled, catered to, reigned in, etc.

Apparently, your not able to request feature set from apple and its either take what they give you and leave? I think that is what people are taking issue with, regardless if that is the mentality seemingly promoted at apple.

At the current rate, Apple could immediately cease OS development for a decade and still be ahead of Microsoft in the operating systems "race."

I have said it before and i will say it again. How serious can you take some one who makes a statement like this? Apparently the iPhone and Snow Leopard were flawless from the start and we just realized those were features we didn't need since apple did include them, then they did over a year later and then marketed them as a feature.
 
I am actually happy that the FCC is looking into things here. I may not use Google voice as a service, but I am not a fan of how the telecommunications industry wants to control the web browser and the internet. Is thats whats going on here? We don't yet know.

That actually cuts to the root problem of all of this... the telcos, and the way the whole cellphone business is carried out in the US (and some other parts of the world). And the way when the iphone first came out Apple chose to continue with the locked-to-a-carrier model, instead of just selling it unlocked and carrier-free. And then they forced the same model on the rest of the world, or at least everywhere else that didn't have reasonably meaty consumer protection and anti-competition laws preventing the sale of locked phones.
Locking phones to carriers for the duration of contacts is one of the most uncompetitive things going on, and the sooner the whole carrier-locked-phones model is thrown into the trash, the better. Yes, you'll pay more for the device up front, but you'll save in the long run and have the freedom that comes of being able to use your device freely, changing providers at will.
Because of the decision not to sell the iPhone unlocked from the start, the carriers now seems to have great influence over everything, and that is why we've ended up here arguing about what we can or cannot do with our own phones.
The thing is many people in the US seem to see government regulation as an infringement on competition, whereas in reality hard consumer protection laws, anti-monopoly legislation, etc such as those preventing the sale of locked phones and the enforcement of real competition in the ISP sector, in reality leads to way more competition.
You only have to take a look at the mess that is the US ISP & Telco sector to see what happens when a handful of large companies are allowed to get into a virtual-monopoly position, with consumers often having little real competition, and how it ends up completely at odds with the interests of the users and indeed the public at large.
I guess I just find it a bit disappointing that apparently there are lots of people ready to vehemently defend the same model that ends up screwing them....
 
Switch to WinMo or Android or BB. They're just as good as the iPho . . . oh wait.

There's always a price to pay. Taken for all in all, in light of what you get with the iPhone + Apple ecosystem, it's a small price to pay.

And even after the GV "incident", there are no shortage of developers for the iPhone, and certainly no shortage of carriers falling all over each other to get it.

No need to inflate the issue beyond what it actually is.

It is not about just GV. It is about the message that Apple sends the developers and consumers. That's why many of us are not very happy. We like the iphone and buy many apps, but that doesn't mean that I have to swallow everything Apples does without at least complaining. As I said, I like it, but as a paying costumer, I would like things to be better.
 
Other GV apps were originally approved then were pulled.

I wonder if the reason those were accepted was because they did something different and Apple decided to pull them all until this matter could be settled formally? I think Apple realized that this was more problematic than they realized earlier.

Of course we can't really know since anything not disclosed to the FCC is under NDA
 
Google Voice is already available on Android and Blackberry. It already works on At&t through the website. I pretty sure T-Mobile has the free unlimited to a group of people thing going...and its up and running on the G-1 and other android phones (app based) and web based for other mobiles. If this was truly a huge problem then they could just block the website like they did with 4chan, and we all know how that went.


This is something that those phone companies will have to deal with...and I am betting that the majority of iPhone users won't even use or download GV (at least until you can port over your mobile number).

While that is true who is more likely to use applications? iPhone users have shown that they are very savvy at going out and finding the good apps. Apple pushes the app store as THE thing. I bet if GV gets on the app store it would see more use than any of the other phones it is already on.

Porting your number over is something google is working on.
 
Because of the decision not to sell the iPhone unlocked from the start, the carriers now seems to have great influence over everything, and that is why we've ended up here arguing about what we can or cannot do with our own phones.
That's one of my biggest suspicions in this case is that part of the decision making process of any app approval is that Apple worries about the hand of AT&T visible or not. I an very suspicious of the telecos because of their huge greed
The thing is many people in the US seem to see government regulation as an infringement on competition, whereas in reality hard consumer protection laws, anti-monopoly legislation, etc such as those preventing the sale of locked phones and the enforcement of real competition in the ISP sector, in reality leads to way more competition.
I agree. It's sad that people do not see the forest for the trees (or however the phrase goes). I still have a hard time accepting that the telecos want companies to pay a toll to access the pipes that they have an essentially monopoly over and they have the gall to say that Net Neutrality is a solution in search of a problem. However thats a side issue that isn;t relivant to the matter at hand.

You only have to take a look at the mess that is the US ISP & Telco sector to see what happens when a handful of large companies are allowed to get into a virtual-monopoly position, with consumers often having little real competition, and how it ends up completely at odds with the interests of the users and indeed the public at large.

Ding Ding!

It is not about just GV. It is about the message that Apple sends the developers and consumers. That's why many of us are not very happy. We like the iphone and buy many apps, but that doesn't mean that I have to swallow everything Apples does without at least complaining. As I said, I like it, but as a paying costumer, I would like things to be better.

We should be reminded that from the very get go Apple said that this was going to be a restricted platfrom and that not everyone can play. Developers still applied none the less.
 
If you haven't "rejected" it Apple, then why isn't in the App Store?? Guess what, I'm staying jailbroken, and on 3.0 until it gets approved. I have a phone that works, and a Google Voice app that allows me to send and receive unlimited txt messages for FREE, to an actual phone number. Would I like to have Push notification when a txt comes in....sure.....But I've been living without it for now and it's working GREAT!

Screw you ATT and Apple!
 
I'm still happily enjoying the google voice application on my g1

Also, iphone users: can't you use the web interface at google.com/voice?

It must be irritating to have to go through such unnecessary steps =\
 
i don't get it, why can't Apple reject applications for whatever reason?

Most phones don't have 3P applications, let alone a Google voice app. Just ban the Carrier subsidies and the problem goes away.
 
Screw you ATT and Apple!
If you wanted to screw Apple and AT&T, then why did you buy their products? You do realize that you are giving them money right?


Also, iphone users: can't you use the web interface at google.com/voice?

I don’t think that the web version provides the whole thing that the native app does. I can’t say for sure though since I have not seen the App. I am simply repeating what I have heard.
 
Let me just make sure I understand:

If I don't like Apple's iPhone app approval process for the iPhone, I should not let my voice be heard, I should just sell my phone, even though there are other things I like about it, and hope Apple changes their ways without any feedback at all.

Just like if I don't like the lack of matte screens on the Macbook Pro, I should sell my Macbook and not say anything about it.

Just like if I don't like the lack of a Firewire port on any 13.3 inch laptop, I should just buy a different laptop and not say anything about it.

Am I getting this all correct?:rolleyes:

Some of the people in this thread make me sick. Of course Apple has every right to do whatever they want to do within the law. But this does not mean that I, or anyone else, does not have the right to state our opinions about their choices. By all means, vote with your wallet. I will be checking out other phones when my contract is up for this very reason, but that does not mean I am not allowed to give feedback to Apple or to voice my opinion on this forum. If you are tired of hearing it, turn off your computer or go to a different thread.

This free country allows Apple to do what they want, this free country allows me to complain about what I want, and this free country allows you to defend Apple. My main problem with the "apologists" is not that they are defending Apple. It is the irony of the them defending Apple by saying this is a free country, but then complaining about others with the opposite opinions.
 
The most frustrating part of this is that this is not in fact a limitation of the platform, it's a limitation of the vendor. This is an artificial barrier put up by Apple. The iPhone is perfectly capable of running the Google Voice app.

Duplication of features ? If the feature was already on the phone, then people wouldn't be complaining so hard now would they...

Have their cakes and eat it too ? This is more like Apple giving you a cake and then telling you you can't eat the frosting because it would ruining the experience.
 
Apple needs to stop this babysitting or allow apps from other stores on the iPhone. Seriously.
 
Have their cakes and eat it too ? This is more like Apple giving you a cake and then telling you you can't eat the frosting because it would ruining the experience.

(With some fear of going down the crazy analogy path....) No, it's more like buying a cake from Apple, but then when you go home and want to add extra frosting yourself you're prevented from doing so because the proposed frosting duplicates the sweet taste of the cake and is therefore unnecessary and/or you might get confused about that whole frosting vs cake concept.
OK, that's as far as I go with the cake analogy :)
 
That actually cuts to the root problem of all of this... the telcos, and the way the whole cellphone business is carried out in the US (and some other parts of the world). And the way when the iphone first came out Apple chose to continue with the locked-to-a-carrier model, instead of just selling it unlocked and carrier-free. And then they forced the same model on the rest of the world, or at least everywhere else that didn't have reasonably meaty consumer protection and anti-competition laws preventing the sale of locked phones.
Locking phones to carriers for the duration of contacts is one of the most uncompetitive things going on, and the sooner the whole carrier-locked-phones model is thrown into the trash, the better. Yes, you'll pay more for the device up front, but you'll save in the long run and have the freedom that comes of being able to use your device freely, changing providers at will.
Because of the decision not to sell the iPhone unlocked from the start, the carriers now seems to have great influence over everything, and that is why we've ended up here arguing about what we can or cannot do with our own phones.
The thing is many people in the US seem to see government regulation as an infringement on competition, whereas in reality hard consumer protection laws, anti-monopoly legislation, etc such as those preventing the sale of locked phones and the enforcement of real competition in the ISP sector, in reality leads to way more competition.
You only have to take a look at the mess that is the US ISP & Telco sector to see what happens when a handful of large companies are allowed to get into a virtual-monopoly position, with consumers often having little real competition, and how it ends up completely at odds with the interests of the users and indeed the public at large.
I guess I just find it a bit disappointing that apparently there are lots of people ready to vehemently defend the same model that ends up screwing them....

Brain dead, hyperbole of non-reasoned reality, regarding Apple choosing lock in over unlocked.

Denser than Lead that analysis angle is indeed.

Either Apple accepted exclusivity while retaining Phone control or accept being hand cuffed and dictated by Verizon.

Only AT&T capitulated to Apple controlling the Phone+OS+Apps+Distribution Service.
 
Apple is staying true to its "user experience first" policy that has been in effect for years, and their "we give you what we like and you can come and play" policy. This all ties into it. You might think it's getting to extremes now, but that's the same reason we choose Apple in the first place.

You can blame the consumer. They're all flocking to the iPhone in droves. And there's a lot more to come. No real Android presence. No real WinMo presence. Pre is in the bag. RIM is in the bag. Symbian is bleeding. iPhone is the clear choice.

You can blame the developers, too. They aint leavin. And there's a lot more on the way.

So who's right after all? The complainers on this thread? Or those that continue to help make the iPhone platform what it is, regardless of GV?

Seems like a tough call all around.
 
You can blame the consumer. They're all flocking to the iPhone in droves. And there's a lot more to come. No real Android presence. No real WinMo presence. Pre is in the bag. RIM is in the bag. Symbian is bleeding. iPhone is the clear choice.

Did you just ignore the market research that shows iPhone is a distant third to RIM and Nokia in the Smartphone market ?

Did you also just ignore the fact that Android is a newcomer to the market and climbing fast ? Sprint and Verizon are receiving their first Androids this autumn. T-mobile is the only supplier in the US and they are the 4th carrier by a good margin. Rogers in Canada received the Android in June and I already know people using them.

Are you that deluded ? Apple is facing very fierce competition in the cell phone market.

And no, I didn't choose a Mac because it was a closed ecosystem (obviously, it's not closed at all). I chose the Mac because it was a Unix operating system and that I could run everything I was running on my Linux system, without the chore of having to run Linux itself.

Not to mention everyone I know with an iPhone has it jailbroken and uses apps from Cydia...
 
You can blame the consumer. They're all flocking to the iPhone in droves. And there's a lot more to come. No real Android presence. No real WinMo presence. Pre is in the bag. RIM is in the bag. Symbian is bleeding. iPhone is the clear choice.

Errr.... I'm not sure where you're getting this from. While it's undeniable that the iPhone has been a huge success, particularly as Apple was a new entrant in the mobile phone arena, and personally having been forced to use one by my company I think Windows Mobile *sucks*...... I don't think you can really dismiss Symbian and RIM just like that. In 2009 Q2 Nokia had 45% worldwide market share of new smartphone sales, RIM 18.7%, and Apple 13.3%.

http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1126812
 
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