When I wrote last week that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) were strong-arming Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) over its new Google Voice application for Apple's iPhone, it was hard to see how Apple could not approve a program by one of its long-time partners and then starting yanking off related programs from its App Store that had been there a while and were being downloaded and used perfectly by customers of its iPhone product. Someone was being evil here.
Now that FCC is getting involved -- it wants to know why Apple is blocking the use of the Google Voice -- will Apple have to uncover just why it's exerting so much muscular control about what types of programs it can offer on its App Store for the millions of iPhone owners to have access to? You see, when iPhone owners bought their beloved phone, they really did not own it at all. It will only work on one wireless carrier (AT&T), and only Apple has control over what applications go on its App Store for iPhone customers to download and use.
In other words, Apple has complete control here with AT&T. Now, Apple's infamous control over its iPod and Mac ecosystems have given it the capability to create and market a brand that is miles ahead of the competition in coolness and usability. The iPhone ecosystem is different: consumers are demanding open choice and they're not getting it.
Either AT&T's backwards policies are starting to ruin the iPhone's experience or Apple is being stingy. AT&T has a vested interest in protecting programs from being used on the iPhone that would circumvent its highly-profitable services from being used. But -- the customer bought an Apple iPhone, right? Most likely, the heat AT&T and Apple have on them will open the eyes of the FCC and the hammer will start to drop. That is, if Apple is being evil here (with AT&T controlling the ropes in the background). Google CEO Eric Schmidt even resigned from Apple's board this week because of the increasing conflicts of interest between the two companies.
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