James Delahunty
5 Aug 2009 11:54
AT&T has told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that Apple Inc. is to blame for the rejection of the Google Voice application from the iPhone app store. According to AT&T, the company does not manage to approve any applications for the App Store at all. The FCC had asked Apple and AT&T to explain the process by which Apps are approved or rejected, and to what extend AT&T is involved in any given decision.
AT&T's claim that is does not approve or reject applications for the App Store is not entirely true however, as it clearly had some sway over App limitations at least. The Slingbox and Skype apps have been forced to go WiFi-only in order to be listed in the App Store, largely due to network congestion fears from AT&T.
Even Apple CEO Steve Jobs stated that AT&T is "policing" VoIP applications, attributing Skype's limitations to the carrier. The new issue highlights what is being seen as a rift between both companies in recent times which even saw Apple accused of making several swipes at AT&T at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).