“Bet you wished you never did that.”

[MordyT]

If I worked in Google, that is what I would be saying to the people at Apple/AT&T right now. After rejecting the Google Voice App last Thursday (see here), someone got mad and decided to call up our good friend: the FCC. The FCC responded by launching an investigation last night to find out what happen and sent letters to all three companies (Apple, AT&T, and Google).
Now this is interesting. Of all cases, why did the FCC get involved with this one? iPhone apps are rejected everyday for the same “reason” – duplicating features already on the phone. But the Google Voice App rejection caused a much bigger turmoil. The FCC saw this and decided that they could use it to push a bigger policy agenda. As it turns out, their investigation is not just about the rejection of a single app; it’s the FCC’s way of forcing providers to open up cell phone networks to be as uncontrolled as the Internet.
As of the time of this posting, AT&T has told the FCC that they allow any app/phone on their network. This would mean that it is Apple who rejected the GV App. When we hear back from Apple we will find out if they were pushed to reject the GV App by AT&T or not.

More info is available here.

[mlin]

Makes sense. When have you ever heard of the providor rejecting an app?

[inertone]

Originally Posted by mlin

Makes sense. When have you ever heard of the providor rejecting an app?

didnt t-mobile reject all tethring apps on android?

[mlin]

Originally Posted by inertone

didnt t-mobile reject all tethring apps on android?

I stand corrected. I just looked that up and find a few articles on the matter. So I guess the answer to my first post is: yes.

[Genjinaro]

If I were running things @ Google, I'd pull all of the current Google iPhone apps and support in retaliation... Until Apple folds and gives in
But deep down, I'm a spiteful kinda guy. Y'know Eye for your eyes, a tooth for your teeth, 1 app for all apps.

[mulhiny]

Lame. The FCC and the government need to stay out of the private sector.

[Tilde88]

Originally Posted by mulhiny

Lame. The FCC and the government need to stay out of the private sector.

Wait... So you are saying that you agree with companies limiting what consumers -who buy the product in full hard cash, are allowed to do on their property [in this case being the craPhone]? If something is mine I will do whatever the crap I wanna do with it... Screw Apple... I've been a PC Tech for about 14 years and to this day I have NEVER taken kindly to anything Apple related... Bunch of goons...

[mulhiny]

Originally Posted by Tilde88

Wait... So you are saying that you agree with companies limiting what consumers -who buy the product in full hard cash, are allowed to do on their property [in this case being the craPhone]? If something is mine I will do whatever the crap I wanna do with it... Screw Apple... I've been a PC Tech for about 14 years and to this day I have NEVER taken kindly to anything Apple related... Bunch of goons...

yep..that's exactly what I'm saying. When someone buys an Iphone they know what they are in for. That's the choice they made. I understand your point, but it's just not reality. Just because people want to put crap on their Iphony and Apple says "no" does not warrant big gov jumping in.

[AceXMachine]

Originally Posted by mulhiny

yep..that's exactly what I'm saying. When someone buys an Iphone they know what they are in for. That's the choice they made. I understand your point, but it's just not reality. Just because people want to put crap on their Iphony and Apple says "no" does not warrant big gov jumping in.

Uhhh yeah it does. And you are overstating the fact by saying "...people want to put crap on their iPhone...". I am sure the Twitter app and the plethora of other apps that got denied were all real pieces of junk </sarcasm>. It IS the governments job to *****slap mega-corps trying to impose their will on the consumer. Where government goes wrong is when it does nothing, or comes in and stays in. Like I say, get in, get off, then get the **** out.

[Bigmac70]

I am all for private sector, but if the government is going to make it so there are only a few service providers then they damn well better make sure use consumers have the ability to do what we want with our phones. So if I want to put some Google app on my phone that is capable I should be able to do so without the permission of the phone maker or the service provider.