Google bypasses Apple App Store to bring Google Voice to the iPhone

Posted on 27 Jan 2010 at 12:19

Google has updated the mobile version of its Google Voice web page to an HTML 5 version that works just as well as a native iPhone application, bypassing Apple's App Store and its strict vetting procedure.

Google's native Google Voice app for the iPhone was rejected by Apple, which claimed that the app duplicated the built-in Phone features. However most observers have blamed the rejection on AT&T, the telephone company that provides the iPhone's voice network, as it stands to lose voice call revenue from Google Voice users.

Google Voice lets you have a single number that rings on all your phones. You can have voicemail messages transcribed and sent to you via email or SMS, add custom greetings depending on the caller, and get low-cost international calls.

You can also send free text messages, record calls, set up conference calls and screen callers. It's only available by invitation to US residents at the moment, but Google has said it hopes to expand the service to other countries in the future.

There are still some restrictions in the browser implementation that Google can't get around, most noticeably the inability to access the iPhone's built-in contact list. This means that the outgoing call shows Google's number instead of the number of the person you dialled, and when you text someone, their reply also comes from a service number Google employs rather than showing up as from their number.

Author: Barry de la Rosa

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