Apple to FCC: Google Voice Rejected, But Still Under Consideration

Submitted by lalit on August 23, 2009 - 11:15am.

Both AT&T and Apple answered questions asked by FCC regarding rejection of Google Voice application from Apple’s App Store. AT&T basically said that they had no role in any decision by Apple to not accept the Google Voice application for inclusion in Apple App Store. On the other hand Apple’s reply presented many interesting points as follows:

  • Apple didn’t approve Google Voice App because it alters the iPhone user experience by replacing Apple’s UI with its own UI for telephone calls, text messaging and voicemail.
  • Also Apple didn’t receive any assurances that iPhone user’s entire Contacts database that Google transferred to Google’s servers will only be used in appropriate ways.
  • Apple says, “Google Voice app presents several new issues and questions, which we are still pondering at this time.” We are continuing to study the Google Voice application and its potential impact on the iPhone user experience.
  • Like AT&T, Apple also says that they didn’t consulted with AT&T about whether or not to approve the Google Voice app. However, Apple has an agreement with AT&T to not include functionality in any Apple phone that enables a customer to use AT&T’s cellular network service to originate or terminate a VoIP.
  • Apple also honors AT&T’s customer Terms of Service, which prohibit an AT&T customer from using AT&T’s cellular service to redirect a TV signal to an iPhone, so no slingplayer on 3G network.
  • Most App Store rejections are based on applications containing quality issues or software bugs, protecting consumer privacy, safeguarding children from inappropriate content and avoiding applications that degrade the core experience of the iPhone.
  • After reviewing an application, Apple provides feedback to developers so they can fix applications. Applications that are fixed and resubmitted are approved.
  • Apple has 40 full-time trained reviewers, and on average they review 8,500 new applications and updates every week, and roughly 20 percent of them are not approved as originally submitted. In little more than a year Apple has reviewed more than 200,000 applications and updates.
  • Apple also has App Store executive review board that determines procedures and sets policy for the review process, as well as reviews applications that are escalated to the board because they raise new or complex issues.

Personally, I am not that much interested in Google Voice app, what I am interested is the outcome of this FCC investigation. I am hoping that after this investigation FCC will make it mandatory (or take a step in right direction) for carriers to let its customers use data network more freely.  We already pay high price for unlimited data service and carriers are still charging extra for data services like SMS and MMS, and blocking access to services like VoIP. You can read Apple’s complete reply to FCC here.