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Why AT&T Killed iPhone Google Voice

ZuchinniOne writes "The Wall Street Journal has a very interesting article about the likely reasons that AT&T and Apple killed the Google Voice application. 'With Google Voice, you have one Google phone number that callers use to reach you, and you pick up whichever phone — office, home or cellular — rings. You can screen calls, listen in before answering, record calls, read transcripts of your voicemails, and do free conference calls. Domestic calls and texting are free, and international calls to Europe are two cents a minute. In other words, a unified voice system, something a real phone company should have offered years ago.'"

5 of 304 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Full List by maharb · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    No one seems to get that the application does nothing without a phone and network. Until Google has their own network that they are willing to give these services out on I would say it is legitimate for AT&T to not want to deal with all the bandwidth that this app would use. The list is awesome and I would love to have it but you have to be reasonable. You can't expect a company to take a huge hit on bandwidth with zero compensation from the customer. As someone who doesn't use tons of bandwidth, I want to be charged a fair rate and not have it inflated because every dipshit wants to use VoIP with a million features rather than placing a phone call on their phone. Contrary to everyone's belief bandwidth costs money and apps like this, if everyone was using them, would eat up most of it. Sure phone companies are screwing us, but have a little bit of knowledge of what you are asking the phone company to offer for free before demanding it. If they go bankrupt you won't be able to use the app anymore anyway or the rates for a standard plan are going to skyrocket even further so they can cover all these apps.

  2. Yup seems someone is lying.. Only AT+T has proof.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/atandt-tells-the-fcc-it-had-no-role-in-removing-google-voice-fro/

    Apple's turn... What? Apple is not an honest company? Doesn't want to disclose its policies? loosen its grip on its monopoly?
    Say it ain't so!

    Sick of all the Apple stuff. like they are some angelic company.... just as bad as the rest of them.. With a crappy GUI.. (lol I like my jab there at the end.)

  3. Re:Apple did the right thing. by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    10.3->10.5 != XP -> XP.SP3
    Heck 10.4->10.5 added more features than SP3.

    How much did Microsoft charge for XP -> Vista?
    And how much did Apple charge for 10.5.0-> 10.5.1?

  4. Two Ways by SuperKendall · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Apple blocking Google Voice makes buying an iPhone not even a possiblity now that I have had Google Voice for a month or so.

    Despite the fact you could either jailbreak it and get a native app that way, or simply use the web app - since after all GV is not VOIP, it's more like a control panel.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  5. Re:Apple Admits It, Sort Of by paimin · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Actually, there's like two Apple 'tard posts, and like 150 posts from Apple haters like you who come out in droves to jack off over every negative Apple story on /.

    The puzzling thing is that almost every Apple-hate post goes on about how many Apple fanboys there are here, when it's like 90% Apple hate.

    --
    Facebook is the new AOL