I find it interesting that the FCC has waded into the Google Voice / iPhone kerfuffle. This is the US regulatory body that enjoys taking up populist causes, such as its defense of our mores harmed by nine sixteenths of a second of exposure to parts of Michael Jackson’s sister that distracted the February 1, 2004 broadcast Super Bowl XXXVIII.
In case you haven’t heard, the FCC wants to know why Apple’s iPhone does not support Google Voice, the reincarnation of Grand Central. Many commentators south of the border suggest that Apple’s US carrier partner, AT&T, is the cause of the application block, but this would be improbable, since the Google app is being marketed for Blackberry support, including AT&T’s Blackberry devices. Politicians are already up in arms over exclusive deals for cell phones. Somebody has to do something!
Fortune’s Philip Elmer-DeWitt writes about the FCC investigation, with links to the letters sent to Google, Apple and AT&T.
Alec Saunders has a great post on why the AT&T conspiracy theory doesn’t add up.
He writes:
Perhaps Apple themselves are quietly developing features that are competitive to Google Voice?
The questions posed by the FCC may probe beyond the statutory authority to compel answers from companies that aren’t regulated by the Commission.
How will Apple and Google respond? Will they even bother to respond?
The companies compete as evidenced by the resignation of Google CEO Eric Schmidt from Apple’s board. They are both big and don’t need government protection. Is government going to start dictating business models?
Are we equally troubled by exclusive soft drink deals with certain restaurants? Exclusive coffee suppliers at some hotels? Exclusive credit cards at the Olympics?
While we are busy legislating open access, are we going to require RIM to enable Blackberry Messenger on iPhones?
What raises the level of passion over such business arrangements in the wireless industry?
As strongly as I believe that open access for cell phones is good for consumers, I have to agree with you here. The FCC has no business dictating business models to Google or Apple.
Ultimately, I think the advantages these cell phones bring to consumers will cause them to win out in an open market, but that's only a belief. The market will eventually decide for itself what model will win.