AT&T Killed Google Voice on the iPhone. Are Skype and Fring next?
DF spoke with someone (at Apple most likely) who mentioned that Apple killed Google Voice on the direct orders of AT&T. Fantastic. Killing innovation and competition has now become the first order of business for these characters. Here's a little advice: If you were ever thinking of downloading a VoIP app, do it right now, before other apps start disappearing from of the App Store without explanation. As DF mentions, AT&T has a special double standard for iPhone users. Sling Player works over 3G on Blackberry and Windows Mobile. Google Voice works on Blackberry on AT&T.
Apple users: This is what "carrier exclusivity" buys you.
Classy move all the way around. What I like is that Google is sitting back, letting these joker telcos get away with this, knowing in the long run it only helps them. VoIP technology is so superior that these feeble attempts to block them will only hurt the telcos more.
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Comments (28)
Will someone please sue AT&T for their unfair practices. Its OK to sign up on AT&T to purchase a BB and have this App on that phone, but if you purchase an iPhone (which in the long run pays AT&T more) it is band and blocked.
Apple...get a clue. AT&T is ruining your beautiful masterpiece. The iPhone may still do more with advance features than most phones in the market, but other phones are getting the proper attention from the proper providers.
AT&T is failing. And if they don't straighten up soon, people will leave AT&T with an Unlocked iPhone to head to T-Mobile, or they will totally abandon AT&T and Apple and head to Sprint/Palm or Verizon/BB.
If you're willing to get the ball rolling (lawyer, paperwork, etc.), I'll join ya!
Someone should at least start an online petition of people who are planning to dump AT&T as soon as they can get an iPhone with someone else. That might give AT&T something to think about. Class action could work as well.
How about a national jailbreak day for iPhone owners! I personally have had ot with the this nonsense. I will not even consider buying an Apple tablet if apps are locked to an app store!
How about a national week of cancellation. Everyone who is fed up with the B.S. of AT&T should call throughout an entire week (keep the heat going for a while) and threaten to cancel service unless they change their act. That should get some attention.
Hmm... DF's opinion seems to contradict yours. I wonder why?
keep reading, he updated the post
The old fashioned wireless telco will be a dying breed soon. They'll die off just like the dinosaurs. They need to face the fact that they are nothing more than a dumbpipe and the first one that realizes that will become one of the first survivors.
Except: Google Voice wouldn't work without the telco, as its essentially a call-back and call-forward service. I.e. you have to have a phone for it to be useful.
Except: Google Voice wouldn't work without the telco, as its essentially a call-back and call-forward service. I.e. you have to have a phone for it to be useful.
Someone please tell me what I'm missing? I have Google Voice and one of those GV mobile apps and no where do any if these state VOIP. Why does every news source and blog post refer to Google Voice as if it was VOIP when it's not. When making an out going call it's more like using a calling card. It still goes over the cellular voice stream not the 3G data stream and most certainly not Wifi. iPod Touch users should forget about these apps since the Touch has no cellular connection. The apps just auto dial your GV number then the number 2 then the phone number you are trying to call. See just like a calling card. In fact this still works and so does using Googles web app from safari. The only issue I can see is this bypasses international rates from AT&T and out going SMS. You are still charged for incoming SMS because Google redirects those to your mobile phone even if you had one of these apps installed. So please unless I really missed something, please stop treating this service like it was VOIP which skype and fring really are.
one of the most useful comments I've read since long long time (on 9to5mac)... I have the Google Voice service too and know exactly what you're talking about!
You are missing the long distance calling of Google Voice (what most people use it for). If I want to call Spain for instance: I use Google Voice which makes a VoIP call to the number in Spain and my AT&T phone number and charges me less than AT&T would. Yes, the last bit it over AT&T's cell service.
iPod touch users like myself use Google Voice in conjunction with Skype to make calls.
The service is different but the idea is the same.
Maybe I'm a bit naive or just plain ignorant, but the app store serves more than just the iPhone. If this is true, actions by AT&T could limited functionality of the iPod Touch as well. iPod Touch users have no contractual obligations to AT&T and it's disheartening to see that actions by an iPhone service provider could potentially limit the VoIP potential of the iPod Touch.
I don't live in the US. But why the hell Apple wants to listen to AT&T in this kind of thing. Apple should just switch to Verzion as their official carrier in the state. And there are so many carriers partners around the world. So why just listen to one stupid carriers? Most of the carriers around the world are ok with more 3G traffic on their networks. Moreover, when I heard about people talked about iPhone weaknesses, the first thing always comes up is the name of AT&T. Again, Apple, please consider to switch to another US carrier
It would be nice to see apps like these and Netshare released as open source so anyone that has a dev account can compile them locallly. I would pay for a copy of their code to compile on my device.
Jowo, two things:
1. Apple can't switch to Verizon. Verizon is CDMA. The only carrier Apple can 'switch to' and/or also sell the iPhone for is T-Mobile. Supposedly the next generation networks that more carriers in the US has started and/or will start in the next couple of years will be the same as the rest of the world (like GSM now), but that won't be available for years.
2. The data networks for all the wireless carriers in the US just aren't up to how the iPhone is used. People buy apps like SlingPlayer and will actually use it regularly. And a lot of people who buy iPhones also have other internet gadgets like SlingPlayers, laptops (for tethering) that will use a lot of data. Sure you can get SlingPlayer on Wince or RIM devices, but I guarantee the level of usage on those phones is WAY less than what AT&T is seeing for the iPhone.
AT&T has simply oversold their network, and they are desperately trying to reign in usage. Particularly now, as they killed a whole bunch of their network buildout this year to keep their profits up.
Remember, in the US, it's ALL about the numbers for the current quarter and maybe the next quarter. Customer satisfaction and/or future quarters be screwed.
...why is it AT&T can have these apps banned/crippled, but that also affects other countries too? I am in the UK, why is AT&T policy dictating what apps I can use? Surely that is up to my local telco (O2)?
It's annoyed me enough to jailbreak, stuff the rules, and stuff the warranty, I bought the phone, it belongs to me, I'll do with it as I please!
A GV app is now on cydia
READ: http://www.ipodtouchfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223306
Who cares if it was Apple or AT&T that wanted the Google Voice app out? The finger pointing is just stupid. It comes down to the fact that it is Apple's device, App Store, and ultimately their decision plain and simple. Why can't iPhone users that paid for an app that can no longer get updates in order to use it going forward? Why can't we get a straight answer from Apple?
If AT&T requested this, shouldn't Apple tell users? Bottom line is neither Apple nor AT&T gives a rats ass what users think! So since this is the case I am now advising all my friends, readers, clients to simply jailbreak their iPhone. It takes only 10 minutes! It allows you to load whatever damn app you want without all the stupid restrictions. I have avoided doing this myself, no more I am jailbroken now and I have more control of the device I paid for.
Why should the iPhone have restrictions on AT&T that Blackberry and Windows Mobile does not have on the same carrier - SlingPlayer on 3G, Google Voice apps, etc? Simple, because Apple controls the device and they can, that's why! Apple has abused this control. Without the iPhone AT&T will lose millions, so Apple has a big say in this. Laying down for AT&T and risking a good relationship with Google is NOT a great business decision in the long run.
So jailbreak now and consider a different platform down the road. I propose a national jailbreak day!
Agreed. The clock is ticking for telcos. When you back a dog into a corner what is the response? The dog goes nuts. AT&T is in a corner and knows it. This type of behavior just solidifies that. Good luck in the future AT&T I hope you go the Global Crossing route.
Nobody knows it's AT&T that required the App to be removed.
Anyone ever thought that Apple did it because Google is now a competitor. Apple didn't allow Google Latitude to be an app and so Google had to make it a web page.
Don't give absolutes on headlines until you know the entire story.
I'd be surprised if Apple is taking its orders from AT&T still. It doesn't need to anymore. iPhone is sold in 80 countries, many of them with multi-carrier agreements, so AT&T is now just a drop in the ocean.
What's AT&T going to do? Drop the iPhone and let T-Mobile pick it up? Or give Apple reason to make an EVDO one and send it Verizon's way? Sounds like a good business plan.
People not living in America, I understand your frustration with Apple removing apps that should not have any restrictions in your country but this is not the article to be complaining about that since Google Voice is only available to US residents. Even if Apple didn't pull any if these apps you would still not be able to use them. I'm not saying you don't have a point it's just that your point doesn't hold much weight in this article because you can't use this service anyway. That is out if Apples hands.
It is like the introduction of the iPhone again. Everyone up in arms about no direct SDK access. But this was all part of the plan. No every time any application gets denied the sky is falling before we even know why the application was denied.
Give it a couple weeks as Google Voice starts to take off and see how things go. Apple long term has the perfect platform for applications like this and it is part of their Developer agreement that VOIP applications are allowed over Wifi. So these applications are not going anywhere.
AT&T should not think about Skype or Fring to cut down from iPhone as customers are adict of these VoIP apps along with Nimbuzz, Truphone and Vopium so it would be hard for them to stick with iPhone any more.
There is a fundamental difference between how one uses Google Voice and SKYPE on your iphone. When we make a call with Google Voice we still use AT&T's minutes and hence Apple/AT&T have a say in blocking the app (I do not agree with Apple & AT&T but should agree in what Apple says 'Duplicating existing functionality').
However with Skype, Fring, Truphone etc. we use VOIP - AT&T is not involvement; we use our WIFI network and we use our equipment, software that we have installed on our equipment.
If only Fring/Nimbuzz would embed a web browser in the app - all I have to do is use the inbuilt browser to place the call and use Google-GIZMO connectivity to establish the call without using a computer/laptop.
Here's a link to the Twitter petition to Apple to get Google Voice app in the App Store. Sign it with your Twitter account.
twitition.com/xh8jk