TechCrunch: Google to “Out” Apple as Lying to FCC if It Doesn’t Release Google Voice App
TechCrunch is claiming knowledge that if Apple doesn’t approve the Google Voice app for use on the iPhone, Google will unleash “a nuke” in the form of a screenshot proving that Apple rejected the app.
Such proof could provide damning evidence that Apple lied when it stated in a formal response to an FCC inquiry that it had not rejected Google Voice. “Contrary to published reports,” the company wrote in its letter to the FCC on August 21, “Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application, and continues to study it.”
Responding, it said, to pressure being placed on it by individuals and organizations under the Freedom of Information Act, Google yesterday released its full response to that same FCC inquiry, parts of which had been omitted because the company said public disclosure of the contents would provide a commercial advantage to its competitors.
One of the redacted parts states: “Apple representatives informed Google that the Google Voice application was rejected because Apple believed the application duplicated the core dialer functionality of the iPhone”
“As we’ve speculated,” writes Michael Arrington on TechCrunch, “Apple will capitulate and accept the (Google Voice) application with a few minor tweaks to save face. Because if they don’t we’ve heard Google has yet another nuke waiting on the sidelines – a screen shot of the actual rejection notice via the iPhone developers admin with the formal rejection. At that point, Apple will no longer be able to rely on nuances and misdirection. The FCC and everyone else will know that they lied in a government investigation.”
Silicon Valley Insider quotes an “Apple rep,” responding to the release of Google’s unredacted letter to the FCC, again denying any misstatements on the company’s part: “We do not agree with all of the statements made by Google in their FCC letter,” the Apple spokesperson is quoted as saying. “Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application and we continue to discuss it with Google.”
Google Voice, a free service currently available by invitation only, allows users to select a single, “umbrella” phone number, supplied by Google, that can be set to call any of a person’s regular phone numbers — cell, landline or VoIP (over the internet). The service comes with a broad range of features, including automated voicemail transcription and call recording. Google Voice also offers free phone calling within the US and Canada, free SMS text messaging, free conference calling and low-cost international calling.
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In Chess Match with FCC, AT&T Gives Up VoIP Pawn in Hopes of Off-Setting Greater Loses : iPhonesAtWork on
Wed, 7th Oct 2009 9:53 am
[...] too loudly as it, like AT&T, is very clearly on the FCC’s radar over its handling of the Google Voice affair. Spread the [...]
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