Apple pulling ALL google voice apps from appstore

[silverpig]

GVMobile and Voice Central have been pulled. Google's official GV app has been denied.

Word is AT&T is forcing this due to the apps replicating iPhone functionality already existing in the device (read: AT&T wants people to use them to make long distance calls and send text messages and not use the cheaper google voice service).

:|

 

[Kaido]

Boo! Way to pull a Kindle on us!

 

[Need4Speed]

any links to this?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
any links to this?

It's everywhere:

http://gizmodo.com/5324268/app...oogle-voice-iphone-app

http://www.engadget.com/2009/0...v-apps-lose-connectio/

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/27...pulled-from-app-store/

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/28...-of-google-voice-apps/

http://www.appleinsider.com/ar...abled_iphone_apps.html

 

[Need4Speed]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
any links to this?

It's everywhere:

http://gizmodo.com/5324268/app...oogle-voice-iphone-app

http://www.engadget.com/2009/0...v-apps-lose-connectio/

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/27...pulled-from-app-store/

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/28...-of-google-voice-apps/

http://www.appleinsider.com/ar...abled_iphone_apps.html

thanks .. it was early in the morning and I was too lazy too google

 

[Need4Speed]

I guess part of this confuses me .. if they are pulling apps that 'duplicate' functions that are already there .. then that list of apps is going to grow pretty quickly. Are there not plenty of texting apps out there, for example?

edit: I wonder if that means that Gpush is also getting denied?

 

[little elvis]

Complete BS, on both Apple and AT&T. I wonder what apps will get pulled when Apple eventually brings iChat to the iPhone...

At one point in time I considered getting an iPhone, but, I can't get over the fact, to check another application, I need to shutdown the application I'm currently working in. Makes absolutely no sense.

I guess I'm going to stick with my Blackberry until an Android phone catches my eye, and I'll make a switch to that

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
I guess part of this confuses me .. if they are pulling apps that 'duplicate' functions that are already there .. then that list of apps is going to grow pretty quickly. Are there not plenty of texting apps out there, for example?

edit: I wonder if that means that Gpush is also getting denied?

It seems they only get pulled once AT&T complains as you're right, there are plenty of texting apps out there. Fring is still available though.

I wonder if things will change once the AT&T exclusivity contract goes away.

 

[silverpig]

Hmm, they've even been pulled from the Canadian App store too.

 

[sourceninja]

My wife and I use google voice as our home phone. if they are really doing this, I'm getting rid of our two iphones as soon as we can without a huge breach of contract fee.

 

[mmntech]

What about Skype though? It's still available on the US store, and it's pretty much the same thing as Google Voice. I wouldn't be surprised though if AT&T is the one complaining as I'm sure Bell Canada or Rogers had a hand in the Skype block in Canada. It's claimed it's a patent issue but I'm not so sure. Wouldn't be the first time.

From what I've heard, AT&T is walking on vary thin ice as far as iPhone exclusivity is concerned. Apple needs to stop dicking around and just open up the App Store. Who the heck cares if it duplicates functions. Apple has already gotten their money. They're certainly not going to block me from using Firefox on my Mac when there's Safari, so why do the same with the iPhone. It doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: mmntech
What about Skype though?

It's WiFi only on the iPhone, not 3G

 

[James Bond]

God this fucking pisses me off.

AT&T can seriously suck my balls. I can't WAIT for the second they aren't exclusive, they can go fuck themselves.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: James Bond
God this fucking pisses me off.

AT&T can seriously suck my balls. I can't WAIT for the second they aren't exclusive, they can go fuck themselves.

What also blows is they've pulled these apps in Canada, where AT&T doesn't operate, AND they've pulled them for the iPod touch too, which is not tied to AT&T at all.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: James Bond
God this fucking pisses me off.

AT&T can seriously suck my balls. I can't WAIT for the second they aren't exclusive, they can go fuck themselves.

Unfortunately, cellular networks are an oligopoly, not a competitive market. Verizon/Sprint/T-Mobile aren't going to offer terms any better than AT&T - they don't need to. Carriers will demand the ability to block programs they believe are a threat to them, especially when it's a bandwith mauling device like an iPhone.

 

[toekramp]

http://lifehacker.com/5324596/...free-on-cydia#comments

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

Originally posted by: mmntech
What about Skype though?

It's WiFi only on the iPhone, not 3G

Google voice isn't even 3G. It just calls you and then calls your contact. Allowing you to have a "home number" that just rings to multiple phones.

My wife and I have used this to replace a traditional home phone.

You call our GV number and it rings my phone and my wife's phone. If you are on our contact list it rings only the phone for the person who cares (if my wife's sister calls it rings only her phone).

It lets us block numbers (as many as we want), setup private greetings, etc. We even set our numbers to ring to voicemail all day while we are at work. It's a nice single point of contact for text messages, voicemail, and phone calls. I can call a company and mask my cell phone number behind my GV number.

It doesn't cost ATT anything or compete with them. I'm still getting charged when GV forwards me a text message, I'm still using minutes while I'm making a GV phone call. And I can STILL use google voice on the iphone (I just have to do it via safari).

This is a bunch of shit. Combine this with the lack of tethering (which you can do with other ATT phones), the lack of MMS (even though the phone supports it), the denial of the google latitude app, the lack of back-grounding apps, and now the removal of apps that work great and were already approved, and you have a recipe for a piece of shit phone.

If ATT gets a android phone I'll switch. If not then as soon as another carrier with good 3g service gets an android phone (Come on tmobile upgrade your damn network) then I'm out of here.

This even makes me seriously conciser if I'm going to continue to recommend macs to friends. I'll be needing a new computer in 3 or 4 years, I'm not sure if I'll keep giving apple my business. OSX is a great operating system, but I'm not going to support a company in one area while they give it to me up the butt in another.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Hmmm, I hadn't even realized GV doesn't save ATT customers any $. The GV app on TMobile combined with a "My Faves" gives you unlimited cell minutes when properly configured.

But, I'm not surprised, I mean come on, it's AT&T & Apple...

 

[sourceninja]

I called apple and was issued a refund for both GV Mobile and VoiceCentral. I know that it hurts the guys who wrote the software, but it is the principle of it. I want apple to see how many people are pissed off by this. I also don't want to spend money on unsupported software. If apple wants to pull something from the store, then I want my money back because it must obviously be defective right? (Sarcasm meter)

 

[Kmax82]

I've been an avid Apple fan for going on 3 years now, and I agree with you sourceninja. I don't want to switch back to Windows, and probably won't... but if this trend continues, I will probably switch to a Pre when the 2nd gen version is out.

This cat and mouse game on the App Store is just plain awful to consumer and developers alike.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Kmax82
I've been an avid Apple fan for going on 3 years now, and I agree with you sourceninja. I don't want to switch back to Windows, and probably won't... but if this trend continues, I will probably switch to a Pre when the 2nd gen version is out.

This cat and mouse game on the App Store is just plain awful to consumer and developers alike.

No shit. It's one thing to make a policy and stick to it, but what the f?

 

[aphex]

Stupid decision on Apple/AT&T's part, but you will be happy to know that GV Mobile is now available in Cydia for jailbroken iPhones (and free at the moment as well)

 

[slugg]

How is this not illegal? Antitrust? Monopoly? Anything?

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: slugg
How is this not illegal? Antitrust? Monopoly? Anything?

They're not a monopoly, so no.

 

[Kmax82]

The main thing I'm struggling to understand is how this even hurts AT&T? Other than the fact that it gives you one unified number to call through, everything else uses their data, so you're still paying for minutes, and SMS. I love my iPhone, but I really hope the Pre, or someone, sticks it to Apple this time. These app rejections have just super pissed me off.