More than a year after rejecting the official and third-party applications for Google Voice, Apple has just approved GV Mobile for the iPhone. People can now visit the iTunes store and download the app for $2.99.
There is a lot of buzz online about what this new app means. Some are complaining that they don't understand what this app does, others are saying it's going to forever change the way they make calls, "with nsanely cheap international calling, a permanent phone number for life no porting necessary, free texting, synchronized phone records and sms's available online..."
Personally, I'd be curious to see how this changes (if at all) the rivalry between Apple and Google -- and how this impacts AT&T. Text and minutes overage charges are a significant source of revenue for cell phone service providers. I imagine this new app could have an impact on AT&T's revenues.
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Application-Development/Apple-Approves-Google-Voice-App-for-iPhone-App-Store-699181/
I wonder if Google dropping out of the handset game changed the Apple-Google dynamic? Seems like a possibility.
ReplyDeleteWith Google not shipping a handset, Apple has less to worry about a tight hardware/software integration with a Google app, and can view it as just another app that can sink or swim on its own merit.