Apple spurns Google, says no to Google Voice apps

Jonny Evans
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July 28, 2009
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Apple has refused to sell the Google’s much-anticipated Google Voice app through its App Store, while also removing existing apps which use the service, reports claim.

Google had sent Google Voice to Apple for approval for sale through the App Store, but it was rejected. Independent GV Mobile app developer, Sean Kovacs, also saw his app removed from the App Store, with Apple saying his software duplicates features the iPhone ships with.

Google built similar apps for BlackBerry and Android, while independent developers also ported the service to the iPhone, with apps including GV Mobile and VoiceCentral made available for a few months. These apps have now been withdrawn from the store.

A Google spokesperson told TechCrunch: “We work hard to bring Google applications to a number of mobile platforms, including the iPhone. Apple did not approve the Google Voice application we submitted six weeks ago to the Apple App Store. We will continue to work to bring our services to iPhone users for example, by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers.”

Speculation now suggests AT&T may have been behind the move to ban Google Voice. It’s thought the carrier may have felt threatened by the app, which among other features lets users send free SMS messages and make cheap calls using Google’s own number.

Adding insult to injury, independently-developed GV Mobile was apparently, “personally approved last April by Phil Schiller”, Apple’s top marketing guy.

Comments (14)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 4:24am

Maybe it was google that requested Apple pull these third party GV apps?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 5:13am

Google's own Google Voice app was denied a few weeks ago. To me it looks more like a carrier objection.

DistortedLoop | July 28, 2009 - 5:36am

 

Just one more reason to jailbreak your iPhone.  I'm not sure who to hate on this one, Apple or AT&T.

Everyone says Apple has AT&T over a barrel, but if that were the case, why would Apple keep bowing to AT&T pressure to pull apps like tethering and Google Voice?

iPod Touch User (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 6:30am

I do not have an iPhone (cannot - or will not? - afford the service) but I have an iPod touch and love the google voice and want it for my ipod touch

admin | July 28, 2009 - 6:46am

That's a great question

Olternaut (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 8:02am

I wonder what is going to happen when the exclusivity deal with AT&T finally dies a well deserved death?
That google voice app seems extremely cool and to actively stifle innvoation like that is absolutely retarded! This decision is going to bite AT&T in the butt and I hope Apple doesn't let it bit into them as well.

If Apple was smart it would allow the iphone to be sold on both carriers then let the both of them duke it out and compete with each other thereby increasing the value consumers would get out dealing with either of them.
If AT&T or Verizon wants to stay in business and get iphone customers they would have no choice but to either lower prices or increase network reliability....or both!

Oh yeah, and non-denial of ground breaking/innovative apps from devs.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 8:14am

Why not just not sell the app in America. There is plenty of other places in the world that sell the iPhone too.

I wanted it on my touch too.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 8:26am

This is the problem with closed app stores. Apple and ATT (like a dictator) can deny anything, and promote their own (inferior is some cases) service. It's well known that SMS messaging costs carriers virtually nothing to send out. Yet, I'm paying a hefty sum to send text messages from my iphone. Google has a track record in demacrotising industries. The cellular companies are next on their list. If ATT wants to be greedy and collect their millions (literally) in cash every month for something that costs them zilch!, I will switch over to an open sourced Android phone as soon as my contract expires. I'm sure i'm not the only one thinking like this. And if enough people do this, we will collectively hurt ATT a lot more than they are gaining by blocking innovative apps like Google Voice.

los4825 (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 8:52am

Nobody is going to give up their iPhones because of what Apple or AT&T does! There are no phones in the market that are as good as the iPhone yet, some come close, but none are as good. So until someone makes a better phone than the iPhone, people are just going to be stuck with whatever Apple wants to give them n terms of apps. So just stop complaining and enjoy the best phone that is in the market today!

Robert (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 9:27am

I think that's the problem. The iPhone is the best phone AT&T has. I just got a 3GS because some voodoo killed my contract and made me eligible for a new phone. I didn't want to get ANOTHER iPhone because of all the BS with the app store and general lack of extensibility provided to me by the OS, but it's the best thing AT&T has. So, we pretty much have to sit down, shut up, and deal with all the things we don't like because AT&T doesn't care and Apple is notorious for it's "we know best how you should use your device" mindset. It's not a good situation for consumers.

Robert (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 9:22am

Apple bows to the company that can't even deliver MMS on time? Way to f-- over the people who shell out for the expensive iPhone on the expensive AT&T plans. Take all the cash, prevent all the apps people REALLY want from getting to consumers, and make sure we get all the iFarts and other crapware. *Sigh*

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 11:09am

no carrier will allow competing apps on their own network. Carriers spend billions every year building and maintaining their networks. you have to wait for your carrier to find a way to monetize it. consider yourself lucky to have wifi on the iphone, keep in mind verizon has very few devices with wifi, mainly because they want to charge you to use "their" network that cost them billions to deploy. wish in one hand and .......

9to5Mac Noobie (not verified) | July 28, 2009 - 11:15am

you're not going to get what you want, face it, no matter how much you complain or whine on forums. iphone and other devices are not perfect and wishing them to be is futile.
folks like apple and att just want your money, you only get what they offer, never what you want. once you accept that you may think twice with your loyalties.

bythewat (not verified) | July 31, 2009 - 9:15pm

all i want them to do is allow it for the ipod touch or just allow it to be used on wifi.... it would make things easyier