Google Says Apple Rejected Voice App

The Federal Communications Commission on Friday posted an unredacted version of a letter from Google that contradicts Apple's claim that the Google Voice app was not rejected.

Apple's refusal to distribute the Google Voice app through its App Store prompted the FCC in July to send letters to Apple, AT&T, and Google seeking an explanation. The agency said it wished to understand the situation more completely in light of pending regulatory proceedings on wireless open access and mobile handset exclusivity.

In its public letter to the FCC last month, Apple stated: "Contrary to published reports, Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application, and continues to study it."

Google's letter previously offered a confidential explanation of the fate of Google Voice. But several media organizations and individuals filed requests to see the letter under the Freedom of Information Act.

Google decided that because Apple had made its letter public and because of the FOIA requests, it would no longer ask that portions of its letter be withheld.

The unredacted version made available on the FCC Web site on Friday reveals that Google's explanation differs from Apple's.

"Apple's representatives informed Google that the Google Voice application was rejected because Apple believed the application duplicated the core dialer functionality of the iPhone," Google's letter states. "The Apple representatives indicated that the company did not want applications that could potentially replace such functionality."

Apple's letter describes the iPhone dialer as "core mobile telephone functionality" and characterizes the company's actions as a defense of "the iPhone's distinctive user experience," whereas Google's language suggests a defense against competition.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

InformationWeek has published an in-depth report on smartphone security. Download the report here (registration required).