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Apple Kills Google Voice Apps On the iPhone
molnarcs writes "Apple pulls Google Voice-enabled applications from its App Store, citing duplication of functionality. The move affects both Google's official Google Voice and third party apps like Voice Central. Sean Kovacs, main developer of GV Mobile, says that he had personal approval for his app from Phil Shiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, last April. TechCrunch's Jason Kincaid suspects AT&T behind the move."
Don't worry, you can still use it with Cydia!!!
Also on appulo.us
music lover since 1969
Is anyone else bored of the endless stories about Apple rejecting apps?
Alien vs. Predator
How long can Apple keep this up? The iPhone app store has been a great thing, but slam after slam of bad press against it is slowly turning the opinion of the technically inclined. If they don't do something soon, they're going to end up like Sony circa 2007.
Wow, that's pretty scary. I'd hate to have developed software for a platform, only to find it removed from the platform a few months later as an anti-competitive action because the company that owns the platfrom decides to release their own versions of the same thing. That could put me out of business! And I'm sure the developer agreement with Apple gives them full rights to do this. Yikes. Well, I'm one of the few around here that doesn't have an iphone anyway.
Why on earth geeks continue to view Apple as a Good Company boggles my mind. They've shown themselves time and time again to be evil, controlling, and dedicated to being as closed as possible. This is just the latest in a long, long line of anti-customer things they've done. Why do people continue to support this behavior?
Gratuitous rant for the day.
Fuck you Steve Jobs, you've been hanging out with Gates too much.
Hope is the currency of fools
So.. I'm a little confused here. There's all sorts of talk about Google Voice competing with the iPhone (at least on some other news sites that have published this) Not sure I understand the comparison. Google Voice for phone calls uses at&t minutes, which don't cost Apple. Its simply call forwarding. This is not VOIP folks. Google Voice SMS doesnt cost Apple either. There are PLENTY of other free SMS apps on the App Store already, why not Google Voice? Voicemail transcriptions surely don't duplicate functionality of either Apple or at&t. As far as alternative visual voicemail, again there are already apps on the App Store for that. (ie. YouMail). Can someone please enlighten me how this is due to Google trying to compete with Apple, or even at&t?
According to Jon Gruber, who has reliable sources inside Apple, AT&T pulled their weight to make this happen.
... the App Store sucks. This is yet another example of why it's bad that for a given platform, you are required to get your software from a manufacturer approved repository. Don't get me wrong, repositories are great. But not if you're forced to use them, and especially not when the repository owner manipulates the software selection to suit themselves. I smell an anti-competitive lawsuit in the making here.
So if AT&T can get an app banned (as Gruber says is the case), what happens later on when the iPhone is not tied to any one phone company in the U.S.? Carrier specific stores? That smells like the stuff people dislike about Verizon... but Apple can't let multiple companies triangulate on what apps they like.
Also interesting is that AT&T seems to allow some apps on other phones they move to keep off the iPhone, it could be because there are just so many more iPhones on AT&T they are really worried about the data load (which would explain why Slingbox is WiFi only on the iPhone but works over 3G on the blackberry).
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Apple, making Android look good since 2008.
The iPhone and the Blackberry... it looks like I'll be forced into the (next) android (if/when) I decide to get a smart phone. When VOIP becomes more viable I'll probably use it extensively if not exclusively.
Wait, any suggestions on smart phones?
Sean Kovacs, main developer of GV Mobile, says that he had personal approval for his app from Phil Shiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, last April.
If this bit is true and documented, then sue for lost development time. Apple gave assurances they wouldn't do something, Google committed resources, then Apple did it. Whatever Apple's reasoning here for changing their minds, they can't yank the football away any more than a contest promoter could decide not to give awards to a winner.
I bought mine in 2004 and I have to pull out the antenna to use it. Works great and only costs me like $10/month. I don't get all the hype with cell phones these days. I have a BB at work and i would never pay the outrageous fees to own one myself. As for developers, are there not other platforms that can be profitable for you that don't have Sybil as the gatekeeper. Why would you subject yourself to the stress.
TechCrunch is citing AT&T is behind it, yet they have absolutely no evidence to indicate that. It is in both Apples and AT&Ts interest to keep the Google Voice app off the iPhone. TechCrunch is just blaming AT&T so they can keep their Apple fanboyism going.
A Magic the Gathering Article and Forum Aggregator
Apple: Look, you're suffocating me, we need to take a break.
Google: What's wrong baby? We were doing so well together!
Apple: I TOLD YOU! I JUST NEED SOME SPACE! YOUR APPS ARE ALL OVER MY ROOM!
Google: Fine... Don't come crying to me when your MAPS stop working!
Dearest Penelope,
The revelation that American Telephone & Telegraph Company is responsible for this shocking rejection of the Google's Voice Application Programming Software has dealt a crushing blow to my masculine vanity. I stand before you broken and afraid, longing for the succor found only beneath your delectable pantaloons.
Signed,
Phil Schiller
(-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
The call still gets initiated from the phone over the AT&T voice service(same with SMS over GV). GV just becomes a switching service that reroutes the call. GV is NOT a Voice-Over-IP app that sends the voice calls through the data IP plan of the iphone. It might get around international calling rates though since the call is really to GV and not to the direct party(I don't know about that part).
It's always nice when companies go and make the case for why closed platforms suck with no effort required on anybody elses part. Apple is just another example. Having a gatekeeper say what you can and can't run on your phone like this was never a good idea, and now we're seeing why.
Apple fanboys will put up with anything, of course. I hope this type of nonsense gets through to the more sensible people out there though.
-- "So they told me that using the download page to download something was not something they anticipated." - Bill Gates
I'm sure it's occurred to more than a few of us that citing "duplication of functionality" is a gigantic fucking can of worms.
And Apple opened it.
In a word? NO. Apple+AT&T are clearly operating under their own agenda and any agreements, past, present and future, are subject to change without notice or compensation. You will not be able to depend on them any more than you can depend on Amazon not to delete your books from your Kindle.
This is a risk of putting yourself under the control of companies like these -- they might seem cool now, but are quite subject to change without notice or compensation. The only protection anyone might enjoy is legislative or judicial relief. We have had such relief in the past and it has worked well for "we the people." We seriously need to break the agreement between AT&T and Apple as well as other handset exclusivity agreements along with all manner of other problems associated with mobile phone technologies.
The continuous merging and dealing among technology companies are in need of deeper scrutiny as at every turn they seem to limit or control technological advancement for their own anti-competitive and price-controlling purposes.
So what, they pulled it from the official application store, can't you just download and install it yourself from the application developer?
I wouldn't know since all I got is a crappy Audiovox CDM 8945...
What they don't get is their 'money for free' SMS charges.
They get the credit for the most visible good parts of the iPhone, and they can arrange it so that AT&T gets the blame for the most visible bad parts. Gruber says his sources primarily blame AT&T for this one, and I believe him. It is awfully convenient, though, that this decision is also in Apple's best financial interests (and not their customers').
To a Lisp hacker, XML is S-expressions in drag.
I would be a very happy camper right now if I could use my google voice number with my google andriod phone on my google wireless plan.
/sigh
Diplomacy is the art of saying, 'Nice doggie!' till you can find a rock.-- Wynn Catlin
There are already handfuls of apps on the App Store for free SMS.
"Duplication of Functionality" my ASS. This is anti-competitive. It's just a pre-rigged way to discriminate against or deny access to vendors they don't want onboard, even if they comply with every last Apple bullet. I am sure this won't fly in the EU...
Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
Google Voice (Grand Central rebranded) is a wonderful service. Not for the reason many tout - its bevy of useful features. It's incredibly valuable because it provides a virtual phone number which redirects to whatever phone number you have now. Change carriers or move out of their service area? No problem; just change the forwarding phone number in GV and anyone who calls your GV number still is calling you.
This is something that is also valuable with email - Mail.com used to offer free redirection for life but they've since gone back on their promise and now charge for their service. Imagine having an email address that is yours forever - one that simply redirects mail to whatever account you currently have. Change providers? No problem; change your address at the redirector and nobody has to change the email address they reach you at.
Anyone who has changed phone numbers or email addresses knows what a hassle it can be - these redirection services provide a solution to this problem.
Hey, AT&T and Apple - what me, a customer, wants is to have a phone number and email address that is mine - one that will be mine for as long as I want - no matter if my email or phone provider changes or goes out of business. That's what Google Voice provides and AT&T does NOT. Phone number portability is largely a joke as anyone who's tried to keep a phone number knows. Portability doesn't help if you move to a different area code, anyway.
Phone companies like to lock in their customers - one of the ways they do this is through the fear they instill in their customers. If you change providers, you'll have to tell everyone you know that you've got a new phone number. Rather than deal with that nuisance, people accept yet another fee increase and stay with the same provider. This isn't customer service at all - it's corporate service where they inconvenience you to insure that the corporation makes more money. That's why they sabotage "portability" in any way they can - and it's why AT&T doesn't want Google Voice on the IPhone.
And they'd really prefer that you didn't realize that if your phone number is in one area code and your Google Voice phone number is in a different area code that you could be receiving local calls from a much larger area. In areas like Silicon Valley this can make a huge difference in the ability of people to contact you.
Stuff like this is why I do not have an IPhone - it's a nice piece of hardware but since it's tied to AT&T it's not for me. I got away from AT&T years ago and never looked back.
Why, if they allowed Skype? Is it because of the free SMS feature?
:q!
Google voice provides unlimited incoming AND outgoing SMS for free. I've been using it on my blackberry because I have unlimited data, but no SMS plan (costs me 25 cents to send a single message). I'm not familiar with the AT&T plans, but if SMS packages are optional add-ons then they would certainly lose money as people realize they have unlimited texting through their google phone number.
Better known as 318230.
Ok, if anyone is an anti-trust lawyer, enlighten me if I'm off base, but how is this crap not a total violation of Sherman and Clayton? Apple is specifically yanking apps that compete with their own. How is that allowed? How has Apple not been bitchslapped for violation of the Sherman antitrust act and the Clayton antitrust act?? I thought Sherman and Clayton were created specifically to prevent this kind of garbage from ever occurring again?
As TFA mentions, Apple pushed the recording industry to accept the $0.99/track, even when they weren't happy about it. When the iPhone was being developed, and Apple was shopping around for a carrier, AT&T made a significant amount of concessions that other carriers would never have made: modify the voice mail system, lack of network branding on the phone, complete control by Apple over the design of the phone, etc. It can be said that a lot of this would not have been possible without Steve Jobs at the helm, with his influence and charisma telling these other companies that *they've* got to work *with* Apple, not the other way around, if they want a slice of the pie.
Now it seems AT&T is walking all over Apple and Apple is just letting them. Is it because Jobs is absent from the spotlight, and he's lost his influence? What is going on that makes them cower in the corner and submit to AT&T? If anything, it should be the other way around. AT&T would be *nothing* without the iPhone, and Apple would be able to go to any other carrier and have them begging at their feet (contracts notwithstanding).
On a completely different note, I wonder when this sort of thing will stop? Carriers have finally let handset developers do what they want, because they realized that companies like Nokia and Palm and Apple make better phones than Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile does, and that they shouldn't inject themselves into the process. This is all thanks to Apple. But these networks are still protective of their cashflow model, trying to use their relative exclusivity and propriety to keep relatively cheap methods of communication off. They charge for SMSes, even though these things actually, *literally* don't cost them anything (the packets in which SMSes are sent are sent or received regardless of whether or not there's an SMS in there) -- especially US carriers. The cost of text messaging in the US far outweighs any other market, for no reason other than it's a million dollar cash cow annually. They keep the Internet crappy, slow, and unreliable so that users can't use it to do anything important, other than get email or browse Facebook, because God forbid you should be able to make a phone call... then that keeps them from charging you $0.40/min when you go over your minutes; or charging you exorbitant monthly fees for voice time. When will all of this change?
Something has to remove their stranglehold over the industry. I get that they want to protect their business model, but they've had it for close to 40 years now in one form or another, and they're stifling change and innovation. And I suppose we can only hope that by doing this, new players will come to market that will be the death knell for the old timers that can't or won't change. And technically, we don't even need a player; all we need is one of the current players to change their tune. Remember the unlimited plans? None of them had it until T-Mobile or Sprint (not sure which) introduced it, and then suddenly everyone jumped on the boat. The first company took an awful big risk to do something like that, but in the end, it paid off.
Let's hope it happens again.
I realize that pagehits bring in revenue, but remember when slashdot used to be a cool place for *NIX nerds to hang out?
WTF is this site becoming? I don't mind a valid critique of Apple, they deserve it on many issues, but shite like this is easily caused by ATT. Some actual reporting wouldn't fracking hurt.
As it is, the whole slash is becoming one massive Idle section, good for nothing but wasting time.
If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
Seriously, how can anybody argue Apple isn't a few hundred times worse than M$ at this point? You can't even build an i{whatever] app without owning a Mac, despite the fact they based their OS off of an open source entity. Didn't they learn their lesson in the 80's?
...please leave a message after the tone. *beep*
TOLD *click*
jailbroken iPhone with no official warranty or support
Who are you, the writer for "Reefer Madness"?
If you need warranty work done, you simply un-jailbreak it (or restore it from scratch). And not even that is necessary for an obvious hardware flaw.
It doesn't void your warranty.
Unlocking is a different matter - but that also has zero to do with Cydia and alternate App Stores.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Plenty of free SMS apps for the iPhone exist already and are in the App Store (and there are plenty of places on the web you can use any browser, including iPhone Safari, to do web-based SMS without an app, including Google Voice's mobile page.)
The big thing loss for AT&T and Apple from Google Voice is that your handy visually-organized voice mail and SMS history is no longer tied to your AT&T exclusive iPhone and backed up only through Apple iTunes and transferrable only to a new AT&T exclusive iPhone. That's true even without an app, if you use the Google Voice web page and call-in number to do everything, although you can't use some of the basic management features through the mobile page, and Google doesn't let you easily get to the standard Google Voice page from iPhone Safari.
I have an iPod touch. I paid $30 for the iPod headphones with the microphone so I could make Skype calls from the Touch.
I hope Skype's not next. If you already had Google Voice, it doesn't disappear like 1984 on the Kindle did, does it?
I for one will NOT be upgrading to the 3.1 firmware, thank goodness I've already installed GV.
if this keeps up I'll seriously think about jailbreaking my phone.
I can install anything I want with no DRM whatsoever. I can even ssh into the phone. The applications are written in plain old Javascript, even the built-in ones, so they can be trivially modified. The Pre is a hacker's dream phone.
It'll be a cold day in hell before I use a closed phone again.
Apple and AT&T's relationship looks like two trains filled with skittles hurtling toward each other on the same track. I can't wait to see the conflict of interest trainwreck.
This move harms the iPhone platform, undermines trust of iPhone developers, angers existing owners and will harm future iPhone sales. Therefore, there must exist a powerful incentive for Apple which outweighs those considerations. What is that? What prize does Apple receive in return that is so big it is worth screwing over their customers and developers and harming their own reputation?
Was this an elective decision on Apple's part, or was Apple obligated by its contract with AT&T to shut out Google Voice?
And if elective, how exactly would Apple stand to benefit by shutting out Google Voice? Are the terms if its contract with AT&T such that they will receive additional revenue by shutting out Google Voice?
Ceci n'est pas une signature.
Sorry, but once a phone is in my hands, it's mine. Period. If Apple would like to dictate terms that apply to phones it actually owns, so be it. But if I were to buy an iPhone, it'd be my property, not Apple's, and Apple would have no right to tell me what to do with it. That's the reason I never bought an iPhone: I need to have control over my own property.
Interesting test coming up in EU/UK: the "iTunes killing" streaming music service Spotify has announced that they've submitted their client app for the iPhone/iPod Touch to Apple. Cannily, they've got this all over the press which must have rather put Apple on the spot(ify).
Spotify is nothing revolutionary but its well executed, easy to use and has a pretty good range of music from pop to classical (minus the usual digital hold-outs: Floyd etc.) and seems to have been very well marketed (starting with a Google style not-very-exclusive invitation/introduction system). Its been getting to quite a wide audience (not your usual pop download monkeys). If Apple reject this, then the App Store issue is going to be News in Europe. Could be fun.
Looks like mobile apps are part of their business model: the basic desktop service is free with (not too bad) ads or 10 quid a month for ad-free, but you're going to have to subscribe to use the mobile version. That'd probably put me off, but we shall see...
In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
I wonder what would happen if Google decided to block access to Google Maps on the iphone as a countermeasure. I think people like google better than apple and I think Google will win this battle.
Doesn't duplicate any functionality for me, how do i get it?
Could this all be a play to get more publicity for Apple and GV? It's already generating buzz and getting alot of attention from all sorts of sources
The iPhone app store has been a great thing, but slam after slam of bad press against it is slowly turning the opinion of the technically inclined
if the "technically inclined" - aka the geek - was really the iPod's target audience that might actually count for something - but as it stands....
Apple is truly evil these days.
What's sad is all sense and reason totally falls away when it comes to Apple.
Everyone bitches about Microsoft, but as soon as Apple does it, ohhh its all okay! Its okay BECAUSE ITS APPLE!
WTF people...
You can tell how powerful someone is by the magnitude of the crime they can commit and be able to get away with.
If you are just some "In my spare time," kind of author, ok maybe you don't care so much. You get the iPhone SDK and make apps and if they get rejected, oh well shit happens. You are just in it for fun and maybe some side money.
This is not the case for real development studios. They are not going to go and spend the money to retrain people on a new development model, and then spend a bunch of man hours bringing an app to a platform, if that app risks arbitrary rejection. They are going to want to know BEFORE committing the resources that it is going to be allowed.
In particular, this could really hurt the iPhone games market. For games on a mobile device to ever really take off, they are going to have to improve in quality. You need things like Nintendo DS games on there. Well, that can be done, but only likely by big game development houses. At this point, EA is at least trying it to some extent. However, game companies are NOT going to invest the time in a platform if they might get their shit pulled because someone at Apple or AT&T got whiny.
Now this case is a big problem since Google got prior approval. That tells the game makers that even if you get the ok, your product still can be pulled. There is literally no way for you to be safe. That could quite easily convince them that the iPhone is a market just not worth developing for. Stick with the PC, consoles, handhelds and so on, screw the iPhone.
While the idea of filtering content for a store is not new, this idea of retroactively shit canning apps for arbitrary reasons, after approval is. You'd better believe that if EA talks to Sony or MS about publishing a game on the console, they game will be cleared for release and that will not be revoked after the fact. Yes, there are licensing requirement that have to be met, but you meet those and you are good. Someone doesn't decide a few months later "Know what? We don't like that, so you can't sell it anymore."
Lattitude was bad enough, and now this? Let us run what we want, how we want.
I don't agree with it and refuse to support Apple or AT&T on the iPhone. Do I think the government should get involved? No. It's their business, let them run it into the ground.
Just returned from the local AT&T store where I terminated my contract. Purchased HTC Hero from eBay and listed my iPhone 3GS.
Will I miss iPhone particulars? Sure will. Will I come to love Android? Thinking so.
I think the terminal moment will come when we see the price for tethering.
If it's 60 bucks AT&T can kiss my ass.
For 60 bucks you get tethering but you STILL can't use a bunch of apps that are wifi enabled only.
For 60 bucks a month + the money for the mifi I can have verizon coverage, and use stuff like the slingbox player. Granted wifi tends to run the battery down over 3g, but I'd still consider the mifi a better deal.
I have an iPhone and I'm out of contract. I'm plan on shit canning my iPhone and going with a cheap-o phone from Verizon. I'm tired of dead spots and of garbage like this. It's back to the basics for me.
"Duplication of functionality" is weaselspeak for "It competes with something that provides a functionality we want to have a monopoly on".
Hey Apple: users should be able to *choose* from among multiple applications and service providers. This is a good thing. Its called competition, and it drives each competitor to provide the best service. Its a win for users. When users only have one provider and are blocked from choosing anything else, users and technological progress both lose. The iPhone is big enough now that you don't need AT&T anymore. Ditch the exclusive crap with AT&T - offer the next revision of the iPhone without a simlock or mandatory contract. The sheeple of the world will buy it and go to AT&T anyway - plus you will get all the informed buyers as customers too.
The carriers think that voice is different than data.
The Internet (and service providers like Google / Skype etc) think that
voice is just another kind of data. (Though a bit of priority for the
packets to reduce latency would be splendid.)
This is just a replay of the old Bellhead vs Nethead battle.
I'm pretty sure the Netheads are going to win eventually, by the
logic of the usefulness of having general data networking to every
device.
But there will be much gnashing of teeth between here and there.
Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
It is long past time both the FCC and FTC had at this Apple AT&T crap.
AT&T needs a re-assement of its monopoly position and Apple needs to be class-action sued over 'bricking'.
forget about freedom of choice for apps for just a moment, I just want to be able to set my iphone to never autolock. WTF apple, it's connected to a power source and yet you insist on locking it every 5 fucking minutes.
Oh, fuck this. Stripping the character. Damn /.
We'll go with "!>" then.
You know, you could avoid the whole problem by expressing your thoughts with actual words instead of misappropriated mathematical symbols which don't really fit the sentence you're trying to form...
"Is greater than", as used in math, does not have the same meaning as "is better than". The fact that the readings can take the same meaning is somewhat irrelevant: it's the same sort of thing as using an image of paw-prints in a GUI to represent "pause" - the conceptual link isn't as direct as it should be.
So, please, leave magnitude comparison to domains where they have some meaning... Elsewhere, use words.
Bow-ties are cool.
I can understand the worry if you have some cheap device and plan that is circumventing a more expensive one, but to have a data plan you have to have a voice plan and the voice + data plans are fairly pricey. Ok so someone wants to go and use VOIP. Yay, great. They are still paying you a hefty monthly fee and then they get to deal with all the problems VOIP has (like the fact that data packets don't necessarily get dedicated time windows).
My guess is to the extent people use it, it is for overseas calls. Ok well for those you weren't using your phone's plan anyhow because it is to expensive. You got a calling card, or used a land line or something. For regular calls they probably use the phone, since it is convenient and works well.
I think that it is way past time that us as consumers tell companies we are DONE with Walled Gardens. Sure they work in the short term but long term we hate it. And any business model that relies on it will eventually fail. Just look at Zune.
Apple's new advertising slogan.
Should sue Apples ass.
Selling MILLIONS of copies of "I am Rich" is only possible on the iPhone.
Fixed that for you.
On the other hand http://goodecompany.com/ makes some mighty fine BBQ
That might get it's attention.
Bend over, fuckers! The word "competition" will now be replaced with the term "duplication of functionality" and it will not be tolerated by us, your elite.
Today's secret word is: nonsense
"3.5" audio jack is nice to have"...
hehehe, can hook up a tuba or trombone to that... or a lottttt of physical audio patches...
Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
I don't know if it'll help, but submitting feedback to Apple couldn't hurt?
I am using a 6 yr. old computer, a 6 year old cell phone and a basic flat-screen TV w/ a $99 cheapo surround system.
And I'm just as happy with the results today as I was 6 yrs. ago when I bought most of it.
I just don't understand why people subject themselves to the BULLSHIT these companies impart on their customers just for a few SMALL incremental improvements in service. I won't even get into how much more money it would have cost me to stay "caught up" with so-called "improvements".
The voice activated features I use are not duplicated on the 3G - is this specifically for the 3Gs? can I still use google search for my 3G. the article didn't mention. and may I just ad: BOOOOOOOOO
Why on earth geeks continue to view Apple as a Good Company boggles my mind.
Partly because you're at best partly right about your assertions. On a closed-open spectrum, Apple's hardly crammed up entirely against the left hand side, as a number of open sourced projects they've contributed to or created demonstrate. And given the focus they put on consumer experience, it's tenuous to argue that they're "anti-consumer," however common and accepted it may be here because they don't offer a handful of features developers tend to heavily favor. And to top it off, they make pretty good technology. Cocoa Touch is a pretty compelling mobile development platforms in terms of smoothness of actual development.
All that said: I agree, this is a pretty evil move, and the way they handle the App Store approval in general doesn't inspire much trust or enthusiasm for learning even a very slick mobile platform. It's certainly something I'm going to consider next time I think about an iPhone project. And I was already thinking about canceling my AT&T prepaid plan, but I think this is going to push me over the edge. Not that any mobile carrier wouldn't have done the same, but this is one way of sending a message.
Tweet, tweet.
The only problem with the iPhone...is apple. I swear I love everything about it...it's beautiful. If only apple would quit trying to kill it.
AT&T doesn't want you to use voice apps on your iPod?
Oh yeah, in case you didn't know, the iPod touch runs everything the iPhone does, and isn't locked into any carrier.
So Apple's willing to throw the iPod under the bus for AT&T, this is what the Kincaid cat thinks?
Edith Keeler Must Die
I can't help but wonder what the group think would be around here if Microsoft did something like this....
Your post was moderated down because of Duplication of Functionality provided in another comment by Apple, Inc.
How quick to bleat about the evil Apple when in fact AT&T are the bad guys. Imagine the ISP not wanting an App on a phone it sells to circumvent the charging of features on AT&Ts network, and since they had the power they got it pulled. But that didn't stop the usual Apple Bashers from running their mouths off with certainty concerning a topic they actually knew nothing about.
Fiat Homos et Pereat Theos
Microsoft is FORCED to include competing products in Windows yet Apple gets away with banning anything that attempts to compete with their programs... how does that make sense at all?
You really can't stop a company from shooting itself in the foot.
No wonder people make jokes about Apple user's being gay. Apple fucks them in the ass at every opportunity and these people keep coming back.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Nokia N810/N800 beat both of these. Why?
No AT&T.
No data plan costs.
No monthly bill.
800x480 screen
External speaker built-in
External mic built-in
Video Camera - built-in (crappy)
Linux.
1,000s of Linux apps just run.
9 days of powered on battery, not 2.
WiFi.
Linux. Debian apt-get install
You don't need to "hack" your device to gain root access.
Skype, SIP client, Claws, GNUmeric, OpenOffice, ssh in and out, VNC, GPS, SDHC, 1800mA batteries that you can easily swap yourself. No need to violate a warranty to replace it yourself.
No money goes to Microsoft!
$220. Cheaper now.
Do these app rejections apply internationally? there are app stores in many other countries - and AT&T lock-in doesn't exist outside the US! I know Skype for iPhone was originally (still is?) US-only. Are these other apps being made available internationally always and rejected internationally?
I have to admit I love my 3G iPhone, and I enjoy the simplicity of the App store, but even I've had more than my fill of AT&T (and Apple)'s regressive business practices in this arena. Although the 3GS looks impressive, I've promised myself that I won't buy another phone locked into the AT&T network (which spends more time trying to enforce a monopoly on services it just doesn't do well in the first place), and if I buy a piece of hardware that CAN do something interesting (and legal), I expect that it should be ALLOWED to do it. ï So yes, the iPhone is a great platform -- for both daily use and development. But the companies dictating how it can and can't be used need to stop cutting their customers off at the knees. Because frankly, although I love my phone, I'm already wondering what I'll get when my contract is up next year.
saying they duplicate existing functionality.
I don't think that has anything to do with it. I think this is ATT afraid of the fact that people are now less tied in to them, with the ability to switch networks or even have multiple phones from multiple networks simultaneously.
When I get a smartphone in a few months, I will use google voice to ring both my smartphone as well as a T Mobile prepaid phone. I can keep the tmobile shoved in my backpack, but if the battery on the smartphone dies or if there is an emergency or if Sprint(most likely going to be my next carrier) doesn't have service in the area, it will be there.
With MS cashback, you can sometimes get a TMobile phone, with a 25 dollar prepaid card, for about $14 ($20-CB).
I mean, will they threaten more dropped calls than there already are? They really can't fuck it up any more than it already is. Best phone, worst carrier.
Apple considered they owned the OS after sale and that that sale required Apple hardware.
and then had Microsoft sue him because it used an API that wasn't supposed to be used in the free-for-use libraries, just the pay-for-use ones.
It was on slashdot.
For sake of argument, in a twisted way, I can see Apple pulling the app from iPhone use, but what about us iPod Touch users? There is ABSOLUTELY NO DUPLICATION of application here on the iPod Touch. It's adding functionality that is simply not available on the iPod Touch.
My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!
...when they intend to do something similar.
All you iPeople need to start realizing that Apple is not all that different from, your favorite target, Microsoft.
I'll try anything once. Twice if it tastes good
"duplication of functionality" = competition
I thought stifling competition was illegal in the US
When all is said and done, nothing changes...
Just because all companies remain in business to make money does not mean that all companies are the same amount of evil, that's seeing things unnecessarily starkly.
Consider, for example, the difference between Alice's Slash and Burn Quick Profit Shop versus Bob's Sustainable Tourism Rain Forest Tours for different levels of responsibility in profit making corporations.
The moderated App Store has been a bad idea from the get-go. This is more of Apple trying to control.
What would you do if Dell sold you a computer and the Terms said you could only run certain programs that only they can approve? Sound like BS? It sure is, and this is exactly what Apple is doing with the iPhone.
I'm sick and tired of it. I bought the 3GS, they still don't have MMS working. Further, after being chided by a friend who runs the Android platform and seeing how he can run and do just about anything on it, I am now thinking about dropping AT&T and Apple's iPhone.
I'll pay the termination fee. And when AT&T asks me why and tries to talk me out of it with better deals, I will point out Apple's "App Store" policies.
This is probably a good way to make a difference, if a lot of people drop AT&T and move to another provider and let them know Apple's policies cross the line, they suck and you're not going to put up with it anymore. :-) Sounds like Susan Powter "Stop the Insanity!!" Well, it kind of is.
Anyone else share this level of frustration?
I am a "Mac" person, having been burned by Vista. I enjoy Apple's technology and their elegance. But this is way too much.
Is that not just another word for "competition"??
So Apple is admitting to actively stifling competition?
When I learned one thing, then that Microsoft, Apple, Google, Monsanto, Exxon, Nestlé, **AA, etc, etc... are just one big pile of criminal energy, as soon as they get big enough. It's no question of if, but of when.
Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
This is a suggestion to play by the "M$ Playbook" which is (1) anti the Google Playbook, (2) is Evil, and (3) would make people avoid the modified search like the PLAGUE, this is exactly what M$ is known for (a) dishonesty, and (b) malfeasant astroturf.
... and I can tell the quality.
I just want the best search results,
I have to hack it everytime I want a feature to work
For 95% of users that is untrue.
Take your edge cases elsewhere, ignorant Apple Hater. And thanks for agreeing with my point since you could think of nothing to refute it. It must suck to lose every argument and have to think of a new one you hope someone will ignore so you can win.
I'll let you have the last word since your ilk will not rest til they have it. But I'm not sure who will read it, since it's a waste of my time to do so...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley