FCC Probing Apple, AT&T Rejection of Google Voice

suraj.sun writes with an update to the news from a few days ago about Apple pulling Google Voice apps for the iPhone. Their actions have raised the interest of the FCC, which is now beginning an investigation into the matter. "In a letter sent to Apple, the FCC asked the company why it turned down Google Voice for the iPhone and pulled several other Google Voice-related programs from the iPhone's only sanctioned online mart. The FCC also sent similar letters to both AT&T — Apple's exclusive carrier partner in the US — and Google, asking both firms to provide more information on the issue. The FCC's letter asked Apple whether it rejected Google Voice and dumped other applications on its own, or 'in consultation with AT&T,' and if the latter, to describe the conversations the partners had. In other questions, the FCC asked Apple whether AT&T has any role in the approval of iPhone applications, wants the company to explain how Google Voice differs from any other VoIP software that has been approved, and requested a list of all applications that have been rejected and why."

Comments

have you read your "fucking" constitution?

[SuperBanana]

So if AT&T is pissed at VOIP (wow, no Telecom has *evaaaaah* been pissed at VOIP), would they... could they.... just possibly..... dial up their *exclusive* partner and subtly indicate, "Hey... would you mind suppressing our competition?". This does not require any sort of investigation whatsoever.

Ah, right, the 28th Amendment, which says "innocent until proven guilty, unless EdIII From Slashdot thinks it's likely".

Also, you don't seem to understand the difference between a VOIP client like Skype or Gizmo, and Google Voice- which is basically very fancy voicemail. The only thing the iPhone client does is make calling OUTBOUND with your Google Voice number easier. The call still goes through AT&T, they still get to bill you for your minutes, etc. Not really a competitor.

If it's so likely they were anticompetitive, and the justice and regulatory systems work, they'll be found guilty and punished. Given that they already have a better handle on the situation than you do, I'm glad we only have 27 amendments. Look at the questions being asked- TRUE competitors have NOT been yanked.