Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, App Store
AT&T responds on Google questions, throws Apple under the bus
It's going to be interesting to watch the next few weeks as AT&T, Apple and Google respond to the FCC questions about which apps get approved for use on the iPhone.Yesterday, AT&T responded to press questions about this by sending a P.R. email.
"AT&T does not manage or approve applications for the App Store. We have received the letter and will, of course, respond to it."
You betcha. The problem is that AT&T already publicly copped to keeping the Slingbox software off the Apple iPhone, while letting other bandwidth eaters like YouTube and MLB At Bat live video run without interference. And of course the Google Voice app and the Slingbox app are running fine on BlackBerry phones on the AT&T network. Slingbox is also running on Windows Mobile Smartphones. In conversations with one of the Slingbox developers, I was told Apple was fine with the app until AT&T got involved.
Of course, looking at the statement, it is carefully worded. AT&T does not manage or approve applications. Correct enough. In the case of the Slingbox software, they told Apple to knife it. I don't think the FCC will be amused by that particular dodge.
One wonders about the deteriorating state of friendship between Apple and AT&T. Recently, AT&T hinted that they don't expect to be the exclusive iPhone distributor forever, and Apple certainly held them up to a bit of ridicule at the June developer conference on MMS and tethering.
It must be fun on those Apple/AT&T conference calls as they prepare their responses to the FCC.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
benclayton said 1:31PM on 8-02-2009
The problem is that AT&T already publicly copped to keeping the Slingbox software off the Mac,
Might wanna change that, if you meant iPhone, not Mac.
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Just Cause said 8:02AM on 8-03-2009
I love their non-denial denial. "does not manage or approve applications" doesn't mean they don't make contractual/non-contractual requests for removal of apps to Apple :-) love legal speak
Joanna D said 1:34PM on 8-02-2009
It always makes me sad when you guys go on a rant about AT&T because there is a whole world out there buying iPhones which aren't serviced by them. Their influence (if any) is extremely minimal.
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DJFriar said 1:41PM on 8-02-2009
I don't see how it's a rant and I don't see it as unnecessary AT&T bashing. In the US AT&T is the only one affecting the iPhone. And while it's certainly possible thy carriers in other parts of the world are doing the same thing on regard to app approvals, it certainly doesn't seem to be as prevalent. Not to mention that Congress woul dhave no say about those carriers anyway.
This is a US based site for US consumers. And on the US the iPhone is only with AT&T so I'm not sure what your rant is supposed to accomplish.
Joanna D said 1:42PM on 8-02-2009
Sorry I must have missed the day the URL changed to tuaw.us. My bad!
Dorv said 1:58PM on 8-02-2009
US based site, commenting on a US based company, that does, yes trade and operate internationally.
I guess TUAW shouldn't cover US based stories.
airmanchairman said 2:05PM on 8-02-2009
You're not contributing to the issue much @Joanna D...
The issue here is clear, and the world will eventually look to the precedents being set in the US (where the sole Carrier legitimately carrying the iPhone is AT&T) to determine issues that will arise in other countries.
IMHO, AT&T has been exceedingly brave and visionary to sit down with a handset vendor and cede so much control over content and even delivery - they were the first planet-wide, and this has opened up the floodgates of libertarianism everywhere, leading to innovation and immense consumer interest across all cellphone carriers in all countries.
With regard to this particular case, IMHO, with Freedom comes responsibility, and given the frantic rollout of network infrastructure set against the explosive usage of carrier bandwidth by millions of iPhone users, care must be taken not to let things spiral out of control and create techno-anarchy.
There are all manner of issues (privacy, security, bandwidth usage and others) that have to be carefully addressed behind the scenes and acted upon in order to prevent a situation where "the stable door is locked after the horse has bolted".
Trouble is, once Pandora's box (hah! pun intended) is opened, there's no turning back.
I'm all for a native Google Latitude app, but using push notifications that allow users a choice to refuse to disclose their location (I can see this being at the centre of lawsuits of various types in the near future).
As for Google Voice, it's too peripheral and ersatz an application to attract all this silly fuss - cannon fodder for Apple-AT&T haters and hyper-libertarian pedants to vomit their nonsensical hot air all over the blogosphere, where their tiresome voice is massively over-represented.
I'll take a deep breath and step back now, and I hope others will do the same.
Fat chance....
Albenheimer said 2:07PM on 8-02-2009
So move to a country that gives a damn -- us people in the States are interested in this.
ianlive said 3:45PM on 8-02-2009
At airmanchairman: It's interesting that you chose the words brave with AT&T seceding control over to Apple. Not the words I would have used but it's true that they did relinquish a very old model of handset creation when partnering with Apple.
You are also right that it has had a ripple effect with other handset makers being more free to develop higher quality devices in contrast to the cheap, disposable models that were dictated to hardware/software designers, by the carriers, in order to get people onto the network at a low entry cost.
To paraphrase a point from a Wired article about the release of the iPhone (http://www.wired.com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/16-02/ff_iphone), Apple didn't simply chose AT&T over other carriers, as many have wondered about, but rather as I have read it, AT&T was the only one to not tell Apple to get lost. Verizon and T-Mobile would have nothing to do with giving Apple the rights to call nearly all of the shots regarding the development of the phone as well as the pricing plan that AT&T set set forth.
Joey The Imperialist said 4:59PM on 8-02-2009
@Joanna: According to warc.com: "The US is by far the biggest market for Apple's iPhone, and is home to more than half of all users of the device worldwide, according to new figures from AdMob, the mobile advertising company."
So matters involving AT&T are relevant to over half of all iPhone users.
For now at least, we in America are the 800 pound gorilla in the corner. On behalf of all 300 million of us, I apologize for our cultural imperialism. But our time is almost up, and in another decade or two you can whine about the Chinese, as they are apparently next in line to take over after our impending decline.
As one of our cable-TV wingnut pundits would ask, "Why do you hate America?" ;)
pheh said 9:36PM on 8-02-2009
@airmanchairman
You must be high. Visionary? The first to cede control? You act as though Apple was the first company to produce a handset capable of browsing the web.
AT&T haven't ceded a damn thing that they hadn't already done with countless Palm and WindowsMobile (or CE for that matter) devices.
For whatever reason Apple is making what seem to be questionable choices in regards to what they will allow to be installed on the iPhone. People want to jump onto AT&T because they admitted to being a party to limiting the Slingbox software. Apple needs to come clean with that application as much as the do with the Google and other VOIP applications.
Jack Chance said 11:36PM on 8-02-2009
@armchair : "As for Google Voice, it's too peripheral and ersatz an application to attract all this silly fuss".
As someone who knows people outside the US, the google voice app would be huge.
International plans are way over-priced on all the cell carriers. Google voice let's me make my international calls for super cheap. It is true, that i still can use it, but it would be nice to just have the app.
I can't tell whether it is Apple or ATT that are being the freaks here, but i'm pretty unimpressed and it is pushing me to jailbreak my phone.
SIP said 11:10AM on 8-03-2009
But this is all about the United States, where AT&T does hold considerable sway... which then affects the rest of the world.
Heimbachae said 2:29PM on 8-03-2009
guys, stop feeding the troll. any one with any mind knows '.com' means US, a-duh. that's the end of the argument.
Duncan said 1:46PM on 8-02-2009
Maybe in a "happily ever after" world, users of the iPhone will finally get what has been given to BB owners for a long time, slingbox, GV and a slew of other apps that AT&T dosent see fit to allow iPhone users to use.
I know its because of their network, but jesus, I mean couldn't you have been prepared way back in 2007 when you decided to accept the first iPhone? I mean the maker and seller of over 30 million mobile music devices decides to make a phone and you dont think that that will have a impact on your network?
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Salty Skabz said 3:41PM on 8-02-2009
Why remove the Google Voice apps completely? The Slingplayer app managed to stay on using wifi only. Give me the Google voice apps with wifi so I can use my Verizon Mifi.
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airmanchairman said 2:27PM on 8-02-2009
That's probably gonna be the compromise solution after all is said and done, @Salty Skabz...
At least until carrier bandwidth infrastructure can support usage, and naturally, carriers won't see their profits completely eradicated by its use.
David said 3:00PM on 8-02-2009
You have a misconception about Google Voice. As stated many times before, its not a VOIP application and does not use a data connection (3G or WiFi) except at low bandwidths for sending short messages to Google about what it would like Google Voice to do. When placing a call, for instance, Google then calls both you and the party you'd like to reach and places you in touch. The only VOIP is in Google's back end. Your phone is just connected via a standard voice link to Google's relay.
Kento Ito said 1:55PM on 8-02-2009
Actually, when slingbox became limited to Wi-Fi, because of at&t's demand, it not only hurt the US consumers, but to every single customer with iPhone around the world.
Also, the PR email, COMPLETELY FALSE. at&t just lied folks. It's carefully worded, but I know, from many of my friends people who work at Apple HQ in California, that at&t is the one who gets to make the final call on Apps in the App store. NOT APPLE, as it says in the letter.
at&t, you just lied to the whole world. I know the truth. You knew this was coming, and you had the letter written back in 2008, just in case if this criticism became widely public. Now, you are putting the blame on Apple, backstabbing your partner.
You should be in prison for that. I can't wait till congress hearing happens.
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Dorv said 1:59PM on 8-02-2009
Yes, prison is called for for lying in a press release.