Apple responds to FCC inquiry over Google Voice dilemma

Apple Friday offered a rare glimpse into the exclusive agreement between the iPhone maker and AT&T, when it officially responded to an inquiry from the Federal Communications Commission and explained its role in absence of Google Voice from the App Store.

Apple filed a series of official answers to queries from the Federal Communications Commission, and provided the answers publicly on its Web site. In the responses, Apple stated that Google Voice was, contrary to media reports, not rejected from the App Store, but remains under review. In addition, it stated that the software has been delayed solely by Apple, which is fulfilling the obligations of its contract with AT&T. The contract states that Apple will not allow the iPhone to access voice over IP services via the AT&T cellular network. Apple said it is unsure whether Google Voice includes VOIP elements in how it routes calls.

AT&T also issued a statement Friday denying any involvement in the state of apparent limbo the Google Voice iPhone software currently finds itself in. AT&T and Apple both stated that AT&T was never contacted by Apple for consultation on the Google Voice application, but that the decision was made solely by the iPhone maker to remain in compliance with the contract between the two parties. In the AT&T statement, Jim Cicconi, AT&T senior executive vice president, external and legislative affairs, encouraged Google Voice users to access the application from the Web.

“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,” Cicconi said. “AT&T was not asked about the matter by Apple at any time, nor did we offer any view one way or the other.”

Apple, in its own statement, said the Google Voice application too closely mimics the iPhone’s standard software, including management of calls, voicemail and text messages. The response to the FCC states that the Cupertino, Calif., company is still “pondering” issues presented by the application. However, Apple said that Google is free to create a Web application that can be accessed through Safari.

The letter also included a list of applications that Apple has rejected from the App Store, only for the developers to fix the issues and the software to eventually be approved. Among them was SlingPlayer Mobile, which used AT&T’s network to redirect a TV signal, and Lingerie Fantasy Video (Lite), which contained nudity. It goes on to say that Apple receives an estimated 8,500 application submissions every week, and about 20 percent of those are not approved in their first incarnation. Apple says it has reviewed more than 200,000 applications and updates since the App Store first opened.