FCC Investigates Apple or AT&T’s Google Voice App Rejection

Earlier this week Apple rejected the official Google voice app and removed all other previously approved Google Voice Apps from the App Store leaving many developers frustrated. Many developers invested a lot of time and effort in building their apps, and it was a slap in their faces to have their apps removed.

It has not been confirmed whether Apple or AT&T were responsible for the removal of Google Voice apps. Today the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided to contact Apple, AT&T, and Google to find out the whole deal behind this. They want to know why Apple rejected the Google Voice App, which third-party applications were rejected, the contact information for each developer’s app that was rejected, who was responsible for the removal or rejections of the apps, whether AT&T has a role in approval of the apps, a list of iPhone applications or categories of applications that were rejected and for what purposes, and the standards for considering and approving applications.

Tech Crunch has posted the letter that was sent to Apple, AT&T, and Yahoo. It would be interesting to see Apple’s responses to these questions, but unfortunately we won’t ever be seeing them. I do hope this makes Apple or AT&T think twice before rejecting any app next time. A Google spokesperson told Tech Crunch the following:

“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. We will supply the information that the Commission has requested.”

I would like to see Google release their Google Voice app to jailbroken iPhones or iPod Touches on Cydia, but that will never happen. We can only dream of this!

[via CNNMoney.com]

1. AT&T Denies Having Rejected Google Voice Apps
2. Official Google Voice App Blocked from App Store
3. Apple Bans iPhone Developer
4. Apple adds an App Store Resource Center for developers