Apple's response to the DOJ inquiry looks a lot more plausible than
the explanations proffered by the conspiracy theorists. In a
nutshell, adding Google Voice to an iPhone significantly changes the
operation of the iPhone. It replaces so many of the iPhone's
functions that it left Apple wondering if the result was still an
iPhone.
Apple claims that it did not reject Google Voice, but that it merely
delayed its approval and kicked the decision upstairs to a senior
management committee. They need some time to sort it out.
In a sense this is like the situation when right-wing wackos edit a
film to meet their "higher standards" and then try to redistribute
the film. The courts have ruled this illegal. The creator if the work
has the right to control what is in the work. If the creator wants to
issue a censored version it is their right to do so, but a third
party may not do it.
Here Apple has to decide what is essential about their iPhone and to
what degree they will allow third parties to change the essential
nature of their creation. There are good arguments to be made on
either side of this issue. I can understand Apple being unable to
make a snap judgement on this one.
If the extensive changes made to the iPhone by Google Voice break
some of the functionality of the iPhone will customers blame Apple or
Google? Who has to make repairs?
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/apple-answers-fcc-questions/
The best of all worlds might be to have Apple and Google work
together to make this work.
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