Google Voice blocked in App Store

A Google Voice iPhone app has been pulled from App Store, with Apple claiming that the service can “duplicate features that come with the iPhone”.

Google Voice is a service that gives users a single phone number that can be used for a number of devices. Users decide which calls can be directed to which phone, as well as which callers can call certain phones at certain times.

“We work hard to bring Google applications to a number of mobile platforms, including the iPhone. Apple did not approve the Google Voice application we submitted six weeks ago to the Apple App Store. We will continue to work to bring our services to iPhone users – for example, by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers,” a Google spokesperson told TechCrunch.

The departure of Google Voice from the App Store is likely due to telco AT&T, which may be threatened by some of Google Voice’s features including the ability to send free SMS messages.

That theory is strengthened by reports from TechCrunch, that claim Google Voice developer Sean Kovacs was given a telephone call by Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing Phil Schiller to apologise for the delay in having the Google Voice app approved.