What Happened:
Vonage, the popular VoiP company, founded in 2006, is releasing an iPhone application today. This both further illuminates the Google Voice fiasco, and brings extended Voip power to the iPhone, especially where wifi networks are present. The application allows users to place inexpensive calls over their wifi networks, or the voice network was approved by Apple without a hitch. The NYTimes reports that the Vonage senior vice president of products as saying:
“Mr. Tempora said he didn’t see any reason why Vonage’s application for the iPhone would not have been given a green light. “We built the application in complete accordance with Apple’s rules,” he said.”
This of course brings into question exactly which part of Google Voice Apple has the greatest beef with. Apple and ATT have a ban on using the ATT data network for sending voice network. Perhaps this is where GV made a specific misstep. It does sound unlikely, howere, that Google would miss something so obvious. Whatever happens, this will surely not hurt a flagging Vonage with a weak stock price and 1,500 employees that need to be kept busy.
Why It Matters:
More consumer option is always good for the end user. By getting ATT competition on the iPhone Apple puts a positive pressure on the company to take care of its current voice plan users. Vonage of course needs the boost, they have lost nearly all of their public value since their IPO back in 2007. If this product can raise a new revenue stream, their stock could move up, against showing the value of the iPhone as a platform. However, if when the next round of earnings come in from the company, and the iPhone under preforms, we may see any number of developers moving away from providing Voip on the iPhone.
What We Think:
Given that ATT is about as reliable as the Pony Express, we love this. Whether we use it or not, the option makes us smile. It is especially nice to see ATT’s grip loosened just a touch, in any way possible. It’s death-grip on the Jesus phone is about as comforting as a pair of pliers around your nethers. We are happy to see the Vonage app, and hope that this shows a new resolved by Apple to let the good apps Google Voice in, not just Bejewled clones.
