


AT&T likely fears that Skype users will opt for plans with fewer voice minutes if they can bypass AT&T's voice channel, but that fear seems to have given way to a greater one - new regulations from an emboldened FCC.ĪT&T denied it had anything to do with blocking the Google Voice iPhone app, which, unlike Skype, uses the minutes on a cellphone plan - though it does offer cheap international calls and free conference calling, among other features.įor its part, Apple says it never even rejected Google Voice - it's just still studying it to make sure it doesn't confuse users.

Instead, it's just had Apple block the application. In a bit of hairsplitting, AT&T has long maintained it doesn't block Skype - which has uncrippled apps that run on other phones the company sells. The iPhone store is the only way to install apps on Apple's category-defining device without voiding the warranty, which led the FCC to investigate if AT&T and Apple were colluding to prevent competition.
