"Google's Voice application has won approval to be on the iPhone after more than a year of haggling with Apple.
The breakthrough announced on Tuesday resolves a stand-off that triggered a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) inquiry into whether Apple and AT&T, the iPhone's exclusive US service provider, were trying to stifle competition by keeping the app off the popular device.
Among other things, Google's Voice application offers steep discounts on international calls and voice mail. The free app is already available for Blackberry phones and devices running on Google's Android operating system.
While waiting approval from Apple, Google in January revamped its mobile website to make it easier to use the Voice app on the iPhone. Now the free app can be installed on the device.
Apple's decision to finally accept the app comes more than a year after the FCC sent letters to Google, Apple and AT&T asking why Google Voice had not been approved for the iPhone. In its response at the time, Apple said it was blocking the app because it duplicated some of the iPhone's built-in features."
The breakthrough announced on Tuesday resolves a stand-off that triggered a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) inquiry into whether Apple and AT&T, the iPhone's exclusive US service provider, were trying to stifle competition by keeping the app off the popular device.
Among other things, Google's Voice application offers steep discounts on international calls and voice mail. The free app is already available for Blackberry phones and devices running on Google's Android operating system.
While waiting approval from Apple, Google in January revamped its mobile website to make it easier to use the Voice app on the iPhone. Now the free app can be installed on the device.
Apple's decision to finally accept the app comes more than a year after the FCC sent letters to Google, Apple and AT&T asking why Google Voice had not been approved for the iPhone. In its response at the time, Apple said it was blocking the app because it duplicated some of the iPhone's built-in features."
