Google says Phil Schiller himself rejected Google Voice from the App Store
By Nilay Patel 
posted September 18th 2009 11:54AM
posted September 18th 2009 11:54AM
Update: And here we go -- Apple just pinged us to say the following: "We do not agree with all of the statements made by Google in their FCC letter. Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application and we continue to discuss it with Google."
Update 2: So we've been thinking about it, and here's our question -- if Apple didn't reject GV, and is still studying it, what exactly did Phil Schiller say to Google to make them think it had been rejected? The difference between "rejected" and "on hold pending further discussion" isn't a subtle one, and Google clearly thought GV had been explicitly rejected. For whatever it's worth, reports of GV's "rejection" are how this whole mess got started, so either this is all one huge misunderstanding, or someone here isn't telling the entire truth.
Read - Google unredacted FCC filing [Warning: PDF]
Read - Google Public Policy Blog explaining decision to release letter
apple give me my 4.99 back
This is like watching Dynasty all over again, only better
LOL @ "CONFIDENTIAL, NOT FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION"
This is not at all surprising. Am I the only one who feels slightly sorry for AT&T since Apple tried to push some of the blame onto them? Oh, I am the only one...
AT&T and Apple, Daddy [FCC] has come home and you have some 'splainin to do!
It will now become a "He said, (s)he said" situation and be brushed under the toupee....I mean, rug.
People should boycott Apple products and make them realize that the old ways of doing business is over. I blame all the uninformed consumers and the greed DEVS for apple's complete disregard for their customers. The iphone is too restrictive and I 100% support the rogue DEVS that works endlessly to undermine Apple.
You know, as much as I hate Apple business practices, an unfortunate side to all this is that their sales (for iphone anyway) won't be dented in the slightest. So no matter how brutal the FCC fine is, or how deep Apple's change in policy will appear to be, they'll go on with their double standards. We can rage all we want, call for boycotts and even sign "internet petitions", won't change the foxes @ Apple 1 bit.
Come on Google, punch Apple in the gut and release it to Cydia!
Apple is so screwed.. love it!
I think its time for Apple to feel some antitrust, they're getting far too insidious a company
Breaking news - Phil Schiller tried to reject Steve Jobs liver transplant.
Logically, either Apple's executives are talking out their collective arses without the companies knowledge, or Apple is flat out lying. There are no other possibilities.
Google needs to wise up and tell Apple it will block any google search and any maps request from the iPhone until they get any app they want on the iphone. Play hardball you have leverage Google.
@jivetrky:
BRAVO!!!
How many months does it take to study an application? Even students in college take only 4 months to study one semester of class.
Guys don't worry, this just means that the hot girl who said she wouldn't go out on a date with you didn't technically reject you. It's just pending further investigation...into whether you won the powerball lottery.
Is it me or are the commenters on Engadget less Apple-y?
@PG
Hmm... that seems like a crafty idea to me. It would definitely garner public pressure.
@CAM
Perhaps that's true. But really, how can even the most avid Apple supporter not be annoyed by this? People who own iPhones are not going to take kindly to Apple and/or AT&T crippling a sound piece of technology that they were hoping would have all kinds of cool trinkets in the future (like google voice, tethering, black magic, etc.)
This just in. All searches for iPhone now lead to Android phone pages.
@Apple
YOU LIE!
What, are you guys 12? Do you actually think that there's any big business out there that doesn't twist the truth?
Apple's problem is that they got caught...and IMO Google's looking pretty lame for blabbing. Smells to me like "someone's" greasin some palms at the FCC.
...btw, it may be fun to see Apple flapping in the wind, but without em we'd be back to having to buy half-baked crap that's passed on as cutting edge. No Apple?... we'd probably be ogling BB's that still look like calulators and $1000 Nokias. I don't even want to think what Sony and MS would be subjecting the world to. Apple's lighting some serious flame under some chronically under-achieving ass. They lose, we all lose.
@bk
I was about to upvote you, until you got all fanboy on me. If the industry DID rely on Apple as its sole reason for being relatively consumer friendly (which it doesn't,) then that's all the more reason for an anti-trust lawsuit.
don't hold your breath. i believe there is and has always been a line in the terms of service that all app purchases are final and that continued availability of any app is not guaranteed.
as for this whole letter biz. it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. why would Google hold back revealing that Phil himself gave the app the ditch. wouldn't they want that out from the start.
Steve Jobs' body hasn't rejected his new liver, it just wants to 'think about it.'
Boooo apppleee :)
I have that tattooed on my Johnson.
sheds new light on what they mean when they say "Think Different"
@Chris
No dude... You only have "Bo" on your Johnson as that's all you can fit! j/k bro!
@Puggs - I am guessing you seen the spelling at the wrong time of the morning... ;)
Boooo urns!
i was saying boo-urns
Oh man is this gonna get good! Can't wait to see who's lying next ...*cough"AT&T*cough*...
No shit? O.o
BOOOO!!
Shit > fan.
...i agree...
...fans are greater than shit...
Sven, you're confused. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inequality
I miss the Apple before iPhone came out. I love my iPhone, but I know I'd never own one if you couldn't jailbreak and unlock. Screw AT&T for high prices and facilitating gov't spying.
T-Mo FTW... they have great support for iPhone customers, and don't give a shit what I do on their network.
My favorite iPhone features are functionality that Apple has rejected or will never allow, like SBsettings and Cydia.
Jay Freeman (Saurik) has a kick-ass blog post covering how Apple has gone from awesome, open company to evil engineers on his blog. Much recommended.
saurik DOTCOM SLASH id SLASH 12
NoAndThen
I would have to disagree with you on the timing. Apple used to be an evil company in the '80s that loved closed systems, lockout and high prices.
Apple became an open company in the '90s allowing easier access for programmers, licensing Mac compatibles and engineering some of the more revolutionary Apple products.
In the late '90s Apple killed off Mac compatibles, and locked down much of the system again. During this time they also engineered the iPod which was a completely closed system and worked on tying it to iTunes.
If you know your Apple history, you will know that the evil periods of Apples history coincide with Steve Jobs position as top dog. The non evil period is when Steve had been given the boot.
Wait... I don't get it...
You can't make an app that duplicates functionality, and you can't make an app that adds functionality?
There's not an app for that.
So I guess that just leaves apps that... subtract functionality? It's all starting to make sense.
Conclusion: You are apple bitch.
...so does iphone have a calculator?
That kind of explains why there are thousands of tip calculators and flash light apps.
@ CtrlBurn
I thought there was 'an app for everything'.
to be honest it seems to be more: An app for everything that does not kick apple's ass.
And i cant belive they actually tried to get rid of cydia, one of the iphone's greatest attractions! couldn't they just pretend they didnt know about it? because if they make an updat worth getting, then cydia will be disabled if we download it!
"several individuals and organizations submitted Freedom of Information Act requests with the FCC seeking access to this information. While we could have asked the FCC to oppose those requests, in light of Apple's decision to make its own letter fully public and in the interest of transparency, we decided to drop our request for confidentiality."
Sounds like Apple got caught lying and Google wasn't going to take it. Good for them.
It is ON!
Hopefully they were recording the conversation with Google Voice.
Doesn't matter, the damage has been done. The FCC will probably be launching a full investigation considering the discrepancies in the accounts.
Yep, basically Apple just lied to the FCC. It would have been easier had they told the truth, but lying to the government is NEVER a good way to get on their good side.
Though it pretty much means that it wasn't an AT&T thing, so the FCCs grounds for regulation are less shaky. Still, lying on an inquiry is never good.