It was inevitable that someone of a regulatory persuasion would stick their nose into the brewing row over Google Voice being denied access to the iPhone App Store and that appears to be the US FCC.
Various sources are reporting that the Federal Communications Commission has written to both Apple and Google, as well as the US iPhone carrier, AT&T, asking for more information about the block.
Competitive market
An official explanation from the telecoms regulator explained that it "has a mission to foster a competitive wireless marketplace, protect and empower consumers, and promote innovation and investment."
Whether or not AT&T fancies having its customers 'empowered' into making free VoIP calls over the network instead of paying to talk as they do now is not up for debate.
However, if the FCC does force Apple's hand in the US and force it to allow Google Voice and other VoIP apps, it's uncertain what the implications will be for other territories.
Via CNN Money
Your comments (3) Click to add a new comment
hafez
August 5th
3. I get what madjedi is saying, but if you know you can get iPhone on pay as u go in u.k, which comes with wifi hotspot & 3g edge it's all inclusive on iPhone so free wifi etc, telcomunication comps will be losing out, not only that these companies relies on customers demands on consuming minutes if the telecom company becomes idle they will be no need of telecom comps, there will be lots othere company who will deciecde provide wifi service 3g edge service and it will be lot cheaper for people to use, telecomm built and invested lot of money on communication system for us and they need make money on what they invested, and to progress more in the future. THERE WILL BE A TIME IT WILL BE lot cheaper than wot it is, BT OPENZONE, & CLOUD9 will be our service providers!
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madjedi
August 2nd
2. PS
Also your to use google voice or skype etc over the data network you have to pay for that. So whether using voice minutes, texts or data over the network you have still had to pay the phone company for the service so what's the problem?
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madjedi
August 2nd
1. Surely once you have signed a contract with AT&T or o2 in the uk then you are comited to paying for talk time and text even if you never use them. So if a customer is paying for network use that they aren't using isn't this the best situaton for the phone company? If the customer uses google, skype or any other service to talk or text (especialy if it's over wifi) then isn't everyone a winner?
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