Google says Phil Schiller himself rejected Google Voice from the App Store

It was always curious that Google's response to the FCC inquiry about Google Voice and the App Store had been redacted, but now we're starting to see why -- El Goog and the FCC have just released the full text of the letter, and it flatly contradicts Apple's take on the matter. If you'll remember, Apple claimed that while Google Voice hadn't been approved, it also hadn't been rejected, and that its status was in limbo while the folks in Cupertino "studied" the matter. Not so, says El Goog: according to its letter, Phil Schiller himself told Google that GV had been rejected on July 7 for duplication of functionality, following a similar conversation on April 10th during which Schiller rejected Google Latitude in part because it might "offer new features not present on the preloaded maps application." Yeah, that's a huge discrepancy, and it makes Apple's version seem even more divorced from reality that it already is. Things are starting to heat up -- we'll see what the FCC makes of all this.

Update: And here we go -- Apple just pinged us to say the following: "We do not agree with all of the statements made by Google in their FCC letter. Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application and we continue to discuss it with Google."

Update 2: So we've been thinking about it, and here's our question -- if Apple didn't reject GV, and is still studying it, what exactly did Phil Schiller say to Google to make them think it had been rejected? The difference between "rejected" and "on hold pending further discussion" isn't a subtle one, and Google clearly thought GV had been explicitly rejected. For whatever it's worth, reports of GV's "rejection" are how this whole mess got started, so either this is all one huge misunderstanding, or someone here isn't telling the entire truth.

Read - Google unredacted FCC filing [Warning: PDF]
Read - Google Public Policy Blog explaining decision to release letter

[kevin niven Posted Sep 18th 2009 12:01PM]

Apple is always "my way or the highway"

[KrAzYRPh Posted Sep 18th 2009 12:15PM]

Can't be much longer before Apple caves in and approve Google Voice App...hopefully

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 2:36PM]

oh for goodness sake, just release he google voice app for the iphone already! dont make me find a way to install android on my iphone.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 2:36PM]

Google Voice is rather useless without multitask capabilities. So I have no idea why anyone would care about Google Voice other than "apple rejected it" or whatever the stink is now..

[AwayBBL Posted Sep 18th 2009 2:48PM]

As a developer, I've gotten my share of "rejections" from Apple's reviewers... and to be honest, Apple never really rejects an app, they just tell the developer what is wrong with the app... the developer can resubmit once their app adheres to the policies (or can convince the reviewer that their analysis is wrong).

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 3:43PM]

Does Apple really think people are that naieve? If it wasn't "rejected" then why were the three other Google Voice apps that were on their App Store removed? That sounds a lot more like it wasn't just a misunderstanding with Google but about blocking a range of apps as they try and protect their exclusive agreement with AT&T.

[Blowfish64 Posted Sep 21st 2009 6:35PM]

Exactly! If it was just Google's app, this obvious lie might make it through, but to actually pull already approved apps that have the same function, I mean come on, how dumb do they think people are?

[blee Posted Sep 19th 2009 3:30PM]

I'm hoping that Steve gives Phil Schiller a good slap upside the head for putting Apple under the FCC magnifying glass... you gotta ask yourself at the end of the day was it worth all this press for an APP?? especially when the industry is going in this direction anyways?

I'm surprised they gave a marketing guy so much influence in the company... every time that guy opens his mouth he sounds like a know nothing fake.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 19th 2009 6:30PM]

I for one, welcome our new apple overlords... oh wait

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2009 11:59PM]

So Apple is the reason there's still no Google Latitude? Google should just abandon the iPhone to show that Apple is being a spoiled, monopolistic, brat.