Apple defends decision to block Google Voice app for iPhone

Apple, Google and US telco AT&T have submitted their responses to the US Government’s Federal Communications Commission regarding Apple’s decision to block a Google Voice program from Apple’s App Store.

The submissions come after weeks of speculation in which each company has rejected blame for the refusal of the app, which caused severe backlash against Apple from iPhone users.

The FCC investigation, chaired by Julius Genachowski, is investigating the matter to determine the reasons behind the decision to reject the app and discover what was discussed between the three companies.

But in a surprise move, Apple said in its submission that it “has not rejected the Google Voice application, and continues to study it” and maintains it acted alone in its decision.

“The application has not been approved because, as submitted for review, it appears to alter the iPhone’s distinctive user experience by replacing the iPhone’s core mobile telephone functionality and Apple user interface with its own user interface for telephone calls, text messaging and voicemail.”

The comments come after Apple released an earlier report in which it said the Google Voice app can “duplicate features that come with the iPhone”.

“The Google Voice application replaces Apple’s Visual Voicemail by routing calls through a separate Google Voice telephone number that stores any voicemail, preventing voicemail from being stored on the iPhone, ie. disabling Apple’s Visual Voicemail. Similarly, SMS text messages are managed through the Google hub – replacing the iPhone’s text messaging feature,” the Apple FCC submission says.

Google Voice is an internet and mobile handset service that allows users to replace all their telephone devices with a single number and handle all communications online. Apple suddenly removed all Google Voice-enabled apps from the App Store in late July, and denied the official Google Voice app from sale.

But the rejection of the app caused the blame to shift from Apple to US iPhone carrier AT&T, after one of the Google Voice developers claimed on a Twitter feed that Apple vice president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, had personally approved of the Google Voice app.

But in its own submission to the FCC, AT&T senior executive vice president of external and legislative affairs, Jim Cicconi, denies any involvement in the decision to deny the Google Voice app from sale.
“Let me state unequivocally, AT&T had no role in any decision by Apple to not accept the Google Voice application for inclusion in the Apple App Store. AT&T was not asked about the matter by Apple at any time, nor did we offer any view one way or the other.”

Google also submitted a letter to the FCC, but many of the details regarding the app have been removed before the letter was publically released.

Apple also addressed some concerns about the App Store in its submission, particularly the criticism regarding the length of approval waiting times.

“Most rejections are based on bugs found in the applications. When there is an issue, we try to provide the developer with helpful feedback so they can modify the application in order for us to approve it. 95% of applications are approved within 14 days of their submission.”

“Apple also established an App Store executive review board that determines procedures and sets policy for the review process, as well as reviews applications that are escalated to the board because they raise new or complex issues. The review board meets weekly and is comprised of senior management with responsibilities for the App Store.”