I knew that this wouldn’t be the last that we heard of the Apple ban against Google Voice apps on the iPhone. The Federal Communications Commission has launched an official inquiry as to not only why Apple rejected the official Google Voice app for the iPhone, but why they kicked off every other third party GV app for the iPhone as well.
The FCC sent out letters to Apple, AT&T, and Google, and, to make a long story short, they asked Apple why they did what hey did and if AT&T had anything to do with it. They asked AT&T pretty much the same thing as they asked Apple and they also wanted to know if AT&T get to dictate what applications Apple can put on the iPhone. They asked Google if they knew why Apple rejected Google Voice.
AT&T has already responded publicly and they are pretty much allowing Apple to fall on their own sword.
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.
I am sure that there will be much more to come.
ATT is full of it, why then is the iPhone Skype app currently restricted to WiFi only? (To name only one example)
This whole investigation smells funny, but it’s LONG OVERDUE that the FCC steps in to protect the rights and good of consumers once and for all. The four orifices have never stopped screwing consumers, worse they try to make it look like they are working for consumers by grandstanding in press releases or reversing policy on items they have been called out on, or are about to lose legally, all to try and save face and fool those who have no clue or understanding.
The four orifices have the industry so screwed up even the biggest handset maker in the world (Nokia) can’t get any traction in the US and device after device is proven a failure unless they happen to begrudgingly partner with one of the four orifices with a certain handset which always takes away from the device and the consumer experience on the device. (aka crippling, aka being verizoned, lack of timely software updates)….
RIM and the other manufactures should be watching closely and throw their hats in the ring in support of manufactures instead of the four orifices. The balance of power, the control of the handset needs to revert back to the manufactures. The four orifices should only be allowed to do what they should only be doing providing wireless service.
No more deals for the four orifices which take advantage of the consumer.
No more exclusive hardware deals for the four orifices which take advantage of the consumer.
No more banding of hardware for the four orifices which take advantage of the consumer.
No more locking of hardware for the four orifices which take advantage of the consumer.
No more four orifices control of handsets and handset software which take advantage of the consumer.
Once and for all all the control the four orifices have taken and desperately try to keep over consumers, over manufactures should be take away, publicized for the unknowing to learn from and the FCC should drop the hammer with heavy fines for the four orifices.
Manufactures need to in addition to business is usual, also sell and service direct giving consumers who have had more than enough of the four orifices a place to buy direct, uninfluenced build, unbranded, unlocked, uncrippled, handsets running software from the manufacture, not crippled (aka verizoned) software.
The four orifices can claim all they’d like and again try to place blame on anyone but themselves, luck those with a clue know better than to believe anything the four orifices claim.