Sean Kovacs

Haha friggin Apple. Or should I say friggin AT&T because almost certainly they are the ones who complained.

This blows. Glad I already made my purchase…

Pays to buy early I guess.

Yeah, I’m going to guess AT&T on this one. Lots of the standard features have apps that replicate them, but when you start getting into allowing people to make calls over VOIP..

@Andrea Hill

Yeah, but GV doesn’t make calls over VoIP. It uses your regular phone minutes. What’s next, they’ll block the Google Voice website?

Cydia store please

Are you considering releasing an app for the jailbroken community?

Google just released their Google Voice app for Android and blackberry and are promising an iPhone app soon. do you think this could be Google leaning on either Apple or AT&T to pull yours and pave the way for theirs?

@Andrea Hill
@JakiChan

Actually — maybe this has something to do with this article today in Lifehacker:
“Make Free Outgoing Calls with Google Voice & Gizmo5″
http://lifehacker.com/5323632/make-free-outgoing-calls-with-google-voice–gizmo5

@Michael Reynaga This was my immediate assumption when I saw sean’s tweet. In either case it sucks. Your app has filled a vital role and enabled both Google Voice and iPhone adoption, at least for me. It sucks that they’re pulling it after all your hard work.

yo that blows . . the political crap they can throw at someone . . hate to say it but I agree with Michael I wonder if google had anything to do with it?

Well this sucks… I love GV Mobile. It is one of the best apps ever for iPhone.

Will look forward to it in Cydia. At least it could be run in the background there and do a lot of things not possible in the App Store.

What I don’t understand is why is it getting pulled now? They passed it before. Why this sudden change? There must be some other reason for pulling it besides that it replicates features. Maybe Google has something to do with it. I wonder if VoiceCentral (or whatever the other Google Voice app is called) will be pulled.

Hiyas! That is some silly news… oh apple…

i was about to purchase the app today ! Its still listed in the store… but wondering, to I buy it before they pull it, or would you consider cydia if they wont let it back in? Would rather buy it through Cydia if that might be a future option!

I just don’t understand why Apple would want to lose potential profit, especially now that Google Voice has been let loose on the world.

I just bought it.

I don’t really need this program. But if it’s going to be pulled, I want a copy just in case I need it in the future. Plus I want to support your work. I’m a fan of your blog and work.

@Clay

I was thinking the exact same thing, but I don’t see why two apps for GV can’t coexist?

I just purchased this app, as it’s still available in the app store. Looking forward to seeing it on Cydia!

I haven’t use my GV account much at all yet, but since this looks like a great app, when I saw this story I checked on iTunes: It’s still there right now, so I purchased a copy. Being threatened by Apple that your app will be banned could be a good marketing strategy to drive up sales. At least until they acutally make in unavailble, then it’s just unmet demand. Now, what does unmet deman lead to? Gray & Black markets (such as jail-breaking iphones) and the bolstering of underdog competitors (such as Palm Pre & Android phones) Not smart, Apple.

Just an update, as of 5pm you can see the app on the store on the iPhone, and you can try to buy it, however after entering password error message comes up saying it’s no longer available.

Says not available anymore after you try to buy it.

I hope you can still publish your update, because I just bought the app to support you (and your ideas), and in case I ever get Google voice. You are helping to lead the charge in to the future, with VO3G, good luck with your next project, I can’t wait to buy that!

Sean any chance you can host the update on your webpage. I am not sure how the hack for tethering was done (iphonehacks.com) but that download worked like a charm. Oh and by the way Apple at&t can suck a race horses booty hole for this one. Rock on Sean.

So I guess they are going to pull Skype for iPhone as well?

can you you provide the app thru Cydia for jailbroken iphones?

Humm another reason to get a Palm Pre or Android phone.

BTW I tried to buy your app but Apple wouldn’t let me

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortious_interference
Tortious interference with business relationships occurs where the tortfeasor acts to prevent the plaintiff from successfully establishing or maintaining business relationships. This tort may occur when a first party’s conduct intentionally causes a second party not to enter into a business relationship with a third party that otherwise would probably have occurred. Such conduct is termed tortious interference with prospective business relations, expectations, or advantage or with prospective economic advantage.

Ugghh….. this arbitrary acceptance and rejection is really starting to irk me.

If Apple is so worried about “duplicating functionality,” why have they allowed Sean not one but TWO applications with the same abilities, as well as multiple updates submitted which all passed the screen. Why is it that competing applications are still live on the store, but this one was pulled?

I really hope Sean gets his app back on the store. Its incredible, and a perfect companion for Google Voice. I bought it the second I got my invite, and feel the $2.99 was more than worth the money.

We’ll look forward to it on Cydia. I’m sure Apple is clearing the way for Google to release their “official” app.

They are probably blocking the app because of the free sms it is capable of doing. I use google voice via the web page, which gives me the same feature access. Without features like direct contact dialing, you have to sync your contacts to your google contacts, dial via the web or text via the web, and it’s just not a seamless experience. I thought maybe dialing the google number, inserting pauses into the number, and then dialing the number that way, bouncing through their system.. but ugh.

My complaint with the google voice system is that it does not spoof the number you’re receiving texts from or allow the option of spoofing incoming caller ID if you don’t turn on call screening.. kind of a mess and pointless to have my contacts saved on my phone, if I have to answer the phone just to hear who’s calling, or log into their app just to respond to texts.

Things like responding to a text, or just selectively declining calls requires more hoops to jump through on the mobile side of things.

I don’t know if the google voice app helps get around some of these quirks, but it would be nice and I would definitely jump on board for using google voice full time as my primary number.

If this goes on Cydia, it’ll be the only reason why I jailbreak my iPhone. I think Apple did it mainly because of texting functionality. That’s $20 per month less for att for each person who has iphone plus google voice.

This is too bad.

I’ve only purchase one application and GV Mobile is the one.

What about leaving it for ipod touch only

Dude, PLEASE release a cydia version. Might as well now and add backgrounder support with fetch for sms\vm

Two reasons why I am glad there is a Blackberry in my pocket. I can actually run Google Voice and Latitude without someone deciding for me that I don’t want to.

This is very anti competitive. I just sent Apple a letter! @Sean, let me know if there is anything I can do to help! -Michael

Folks – let me put all this into perspective for you. This is strictly an AT&T and crApple decisions, so let’s not bring Google into the mix. Google will be releasing a free app, so they’re not competing with anyone.

I realy do hope that crApple will soon realize their mistakes, and put those apps back in the store asap before it’s too late for them. That is a very bad business, and marketing decision.

Here is the solution in case crApple does not reverse their decision.
There is only 1 crApple, and many of us. Are you feeling me…?
We’ll just return those criPhones, cancel our contracts, boycott those crIpple crApple products, and see who has the upper hands. That should teach them a lesson for life. Enough is enough.

I look forward for the next release of GV Mobile wherever it may be.

Shame on crApple, power to the people, and long live Google.

AT&T sucks! its all cuz of AT&T.
Fight it SEAN! Get it back on app. Store.

@marc

marc :

My complaint with the google voice system is that it does not spoof the number you’re receiving texts from

the reason why is because if it was spoofed to appear from your contacts number, then when you replied it would go back as your phone number and not your google number

marc :or allow the option of spoofing incoming caller ID if you don’t turn on call screening.. kind of a mess and pointless to have my contacts saved on my phone, if I have to answer the phone just to hear who’s calling, or log into their app just to respond to texts.

I have that exact feature turned on. For some callers in my address book, I have Call Presentation disabled because the caller id is spoofed and I already know who is calling.

marc :
Things like responding to a text, or just selectively declining calls requires more hoops to jump through on the mobile side of things.

Just using a regular cellphone? Yes. But not with GV Mobile.

marc :
I don’t know if the google voice app helps get around some of these quirks, but it would be nice and I would definitely jump on board for using google voice full time as my primary number.

GV Mobile seemed to solve all my problems I had, and I use i with my iPod touch and my RAZR2.

After examining your comment, perhaps you should go double check your GV settings, because I found a lot of your complaints about missing features are actually now features.

Aren’t these kind of decisions going to drive the “jailbreaking” of iPhones more and more? Seems goofy to me.

That being said, you can continue to use the GoogleVoice mobile site which is useful but not likely as usable.

I paid for the app when it was first released. I then upgraded the OS and did not back up. Now I can’t get it anymore =(

Like all the others, I hope it goes on Cydia.

YCF :
Google will be releasing a free app, so they’re not competing with anyone.

Uh, no, they won’t. I’m pretty sure that Apple won’t let the Google app see the light of day. I was holding out for the official Google app because GV SMS + push app (which Google can do much easier than Sean could) would be uberwin. But no, that much functionality would be too much win. I’m starting to regret buying a 3GS.

@JakiChan
My point was that Google was not the one behind that as some people suggested.

crApple makes it very easy for anyone to regret buying any of their products. It’s not too late, we can still get rid of their products and be free from crApple’s wicked way of doing business. Let’s spread the word around.

If that’s the logic they want to use – duplicating functionality – then you need to make sure they are also pulling all applications that have a primary function of sending an email or sending/receiving SMS, and all Dialer apps. Send them screenshots of other apps that perform those functions, along with screenshots of your application showing similar functions. If they want to play the “duplicate functionality” game – make them really play it.

We all know this is crap, they know its crap – call them on it. Force their hand. They’re taking food off your table for no good reason.

The decision is in our hands, we just need to team up to make it happen. Let teach crApple a lesson. Together we can.

YCF :
The decision is in our hands, we just need to team up to make it happen. Let teach crApple a lesson. Together we can.

How? We’re already stuck with the hardware. I suppose if I quit and paid the ETF, then the $170 is more than AT&T paid Apple for the phone so I could hurt them that way…

@Cody: You’re right, I did correct it with the call presentation, I just turned it off so it shows all of the caller id’s except for unknown callers, then it screens.

L ike Brandon stated above, if it were to step in as the default messaging app, Is this the reason why AT&T called foul and forced/asked/b!tched enough to make Apple to pull it? Because it is allowing people to not pay their text messaging rates? Will the google voice app actually take place as the default messaging app (like biteSMS does) so when i do receive texts, i can text through them to show my google number?

The problem with releasing it as a Cydia application, is that some/most jailbroken phones currently have push notifications borked. The people who activated with an AT&T sim, will have no problems as they have a unique id on the activation server, the rest of us who unlocked their sim to use on another network will be forced to use fetch, which may still hinder the experience. It’s a fine line, does Google say eff you to the folks that are jailbroken and using it on another carrier? or do they set up fetch to pull sms and you have delayed messages? Is the intended mode of operation expecting you to load the GV app whenever you want to text outbound, because they got forwarded to your cell notifying you and now you load a separate app to respond? if so, what’s the point? just use your direct mobile number for texts..

The point is, do I want to trouble my people to have a crazy priority system for reaching me? I do love to text, and it’s pretty much the only way you can get a hold of me for non-work related stuff while i’m at work. Do I expect them to text me at one number, call me at another, which rings the same number they texted me at?

Hey Sean, you may want to take a look at the program that is called MyPhone+. Its a Facebook Dialer that syncs with Facebook to retrieve your contacts photos. It has its own dialer and address book. The reason they didn’t list which features are duplicate is many other apps they offer include all the ones you do. Only difference is their app doesn’t necessarily pose a threat to mobile carriers potential profits. Google Voice a service they would prefer wouldn’t have ever happened.

To top off feeling threatened by Google Voice, all carriers including partner T-Mobile are no doubt a bit worried about Google’s desire to purchase their own network frequencies in the 700 megahertz spectrum auction. Free phone numbers, and free US calling/SMS/Forwarding? What is Google’s next move? Free or very inexpensive unlimited mobile phone service and/or mobile internet to go with their OEM Android based phones and Google Chrome OS based netbooks? I’d love to fast forward time to see if I’m right

Noooooo! I saw the lifehacker article, ran home to download it and it had already been yanked. Is there no legit way to get it loaded now? I grabbed the free version on Friday to test out with my new GV#. I didn’t think they would yank the app though? Does this mean Google will be releasing theirs soon? Lame lame. Oh well, great app regardless .

@JakiChan
There are many ways to solve this unfair practice going forward.

You’re right, cancelling the contract which I already suggested. Then we can sell those criphones on ebay for more than that. Or use it with Tmobile with a cheaper plan. No more business for crApple and AT&T.

We would stop using the app store for real unless they put those apps back asap.

We’d boycott crApple’s products. Trust me, that would be more than enough, as they would feel the heat right away. But we have to team up to succeed. Plain and simple. Spread the word: youtude, twitter, etc.

@Alex

Yeah. I only have a Touch, not an iPhone. wtf, I could still use it!

Question. I purchased it three days ago, how can I get a refund?

Thanks,
Chad.