Long ago, Google and Apple were the best of friends, sharing iPhone apps and trying to drive away the competition, namely Microsoft and its creation Bing. Lately, however, that friend status has changed. Take the case of Google Voice, for example. Google Voice is a Google created application that allows users to manage their voice communications in one go. Apple did not seem to like the app's functionality and discarded it from the iPhone’s App Store last year.
Today, the Google vs. Apple saga continues. Despite, Apple’s rejections, Google Voice has made it to the iPhone after all. How did it all start? When Google came out with Google Voice last year, Apple turned down the application to put the program on its native app list. This was in July of 2009. Apple even brought the FCC in on the deal, saying they were still reviewing Google’s application.
The official reason for pulling or, rather ignoring the app was that Google Voice infringed on some of the iPhone’s functionality. It duplicated the things the iPhone already did and was thus deemed unnecessary overkill. The FCC found this all too suspicious and sent letters to both companies demanding that they come clean.
The real reason, however, is competition. Google has only recently gotten into the smartphone business with its Droid powered exclusively by Verizon. The iPhone, conversely has been on the market for years and dominated the geek/creative-inclined customer base. The Droid is an open OS, while the iPhone is closed, meaning the Droid has more room to grow while the iPhone limits such growth as seen by the Google Voice debacle.
Despite, the FCC investigation and Apple’s protests, Google Voice has finally made it to the iPhone – through a crafty loophole, no less. Google Voice operates through a smartphone’s web browser, so users can access it from any phone that allows web access including the iPhone.
Google Voice allows users to simplify their communications by forwarding a single number to multiple phones as well as make cheap long distance phone calls. Users can even get transcripts of voicemails, and search all SMS text messages sent and received.
Thus far, there has been no official response from Apple over the new Google Voice technology. iPhone users, however ought to be pleased.
Written by Lani Shadduck
HULIQ.com
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