Apple rejection of the Google Voice app slammed by advocates

The rejection by Apple of a Google Voice application that would allow iPhone owners more options in how they place calls is “very troubling,” according to our colleagues at Consumers Union, the parent company of Consumer Reports.

The app is available now for Blackberrys, and for Google phones such as T-Mobile’s G1, now in our smart phone Ratings (available to subscribers), and the upcoming MyTouch 3G, which will soon be.

Google Voice is designed to route work, home and wireless phones to a single number provided by the Internet search giant. Other features include free local and cheap international calls and even transcripts of voicemail phone messages in your email inbox.

In a blog post on its HearUsNow.org website, CU says that Apple rejected the app because “Google Voice effectively gives away for free many of the services that AT&T makes a lot of money selling." And it links that decision to the exclusivity arrangements that are prevalent for many cell phones, including the iPhone, and that CU opposes.

“It’s safe to say that Apple would not have rejected Google Voice for the iPhone were it not for its exclusive service deal with AT&T, “ CU says.

Comments

[Aren Cambre]

Oh, come on! Now CR purports to tell vendors when to adopt competitors' technologies? Liberal hubris at its finest!

[Chair]

I´m not sure the FCC should be oinvolved: Apple has every right to block stuff in its own app store! It´s not like there are no other phones. Want to use Google voice? Get a Blackberry! Burn your Iphone!

[RC]

Net neutrality and device-to-network exclusivity and subscription contracts are all parts of the same anti-competitive pie which reduces competition and product and service options for consumers. This is why these things are slowly but surely being called out by organizations like CU and investigated by the US federal government.

There IS a reason other than geography size to explain why north american cellular network service rates are more expensive than other countries. There IS a reason why north american cellular devices are more technologically primitive than those in other countries. Anti-competitive practices hurt the consumer and that is why the government (tries) to mandate against them.