Comments on Google Voice Rejection Filed Today, Google Under Scrutiny for Similar Actions?
Apple (AAPL) and AT&T (T) Friday are expected to tell the Federal Communications Commission why Google's free voice application, called Google Voice, is banned from the Apple iPhone. Google is also filing comments.
The FCC moved quickly to investigate the application's rejection, looking to determine the extent of AT&T's role in the decision-making process as Apple and the wireless industry have both come under scrutiny in recent months for possible anti-competitive practices.The report notes, however, that Google may also find itself facing inquiries about a similar issue in which users of handsets based on the company's Android mobile phone operating system are unable to take advantage of full Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service from Skype.
Consumers who use Android, the Google-developed operating system for wireless devices, can't use Skype, a leading Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. A pioneer in free Internet calling, Skype allows you to talk as long as you want without draining cellphone minutes.
Android users get Skype Lite, a watered-down version of the original that routes calls over traditional phone networks -- not the Internet. As a result, long-distance calls are still cheap or free, but cellphone minutes are gobbled up every time a Skype Lite call is made.
USA Today notes that Google has been asked to address its application approval process for Android as part of the Google Voice investigation.
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That would probably mean that prices would go up because the phone companies wouldn't want to subsidize them any longer. I wonder how the American public would react to that.
Unless I'm missing something I can't see why Google or Apple wouldn't want apps such as VoIP services. The service providers must be playing games.
In the case of google, they might want you to use their own VoIP solution instead of skype.
In the case of google, they might want you to use their own VoIP solution instead of skype.
That's not a case, that's barrier to entry. That's illegal because Google doesn't have the patent on VoIP. Only a patent can protect barriers to entry.
Very interesting about how Google is getting investigated too. It'd be nice if this led to some actual freedom on how we use these devices.
That would probably mean that prices would go up because the phone companies wouldn't want to subsidize them any longer. I wonder how the American public would react to that.
Not necessarily. I find it hard to believe that a smart phone costs as much as some low end laptops. I find it more likely that the prices are higher in order to maintain profit margins.
Personally, I would rather pay more for an unsubsidized phone and have the freedom to use how I want, with whatever carrier I want. I also believe that very quickly any initial rise in prices will be offset by the competitive nature of retail.
Same with Google. Although, I see Google as more 'open source' whereas Apple... No. Not at all!
Governments are wasting tax payer dollars on this sort of "investigation".
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