There are countless apps on the App Store that “duplicate” the iPhone’s functionality in some form, and the notion that users might get confused about the apps is ridiculous too — after all, users have to manually install these apps.
This is not very insightful. Apple obviously did not reject the application based on what is shares in common with applications it didn't reject. So why not actually examine the differences? Moreover, why not examine the differences as referenced by Apple concerning their own actions?
For instance, Apple's claim that: "The Google Voice application replaces Apple’s Visual Voicemail by routing calls through a separate Google Voice telephone number that stores any voicemail, preventing voicemail from being stored on the iPhone, i.e., disabling Apple’s Visual Voicemail."
Is this true? Are there other, accepted applications that do this? Does this constitute a duplication of functionality that may confuse users?
TechCrunch doesn't appear to have even attempted to answer any of these questions.
Google voice only handles your voicemail if you explicitly set it up through the google voice settings interface. It involves dialing a special number from your phone that google gives you. And if I recall correctly Mike Arrington did explain this in at least one of the posts covering the whole fiasco.
We also wrote quite a few other stories about the situation that you should be able to pull up using the Google query below. For more on applications that are similar to Google Voice, check out the stories on Line2.
In that case I don't really understand your point. There are lots of ways to send messages other than through Apple's visual voicemail if you want to set them up. Yes it's true that you can have Google Voice handle your voicemail for you if you go through a set of steps to set it up.
I don't own an iphone, but I imagine there is a native email application that Apple wrote. Let's say you have mac mail, and are popping your mail to your phone. I also imagine there are plenty of other email clients, which notably Apple has not rejected. If you then download and configure one of these other clients to pop your email is that duplicating a native function of the phone? Is it confusing? I argue no, and apparently Apple agrees since said apps certainly exist in the App Store.
Choosing to consume your data in a way other than Apple intended seems to be the problem with Google Voice. The argument of confusion by duplicating functionality is patronizing to users and pretty thin.
This is not very insightful. Apple obviously did not reject the application based on what is shares in common with applications it didn't reject. So why not actually examine the differences? Moreover, why not examine the differences as referenced by Apple concerning their own actions?
For instance, Apple's claim that: "The Google Voice application replaces Apple’s Visual Voicemail by routing calls through a separate Google Voice telephone number that stores any voicemail, preventing voicemail from being stored on the iPhone, i.e., disabling Apple’s Visual Voicemail."
Is this true? Are there other, accepted applications that do this? Does this constitute a duplication of functionality that may confuse users?
TechCrunch doesn't appear to have even attempted to answer any of these questions.