Am I the only one shocked that Android 1.0 couldn’t technologically handle VoIP, however? G1 was a little rough around the edges, but… seriously?

Also note, Rubin clearly states their carrier partners can request apps be filtered due to ToS, which means they’re — and we’re — still beholden to the carriers, which was the central theme of the article… DUMB. PIPES.

Regarding side-loading apps from other sources:

Probably the king of this category will be the N900, since its standard Linux:

http://forum.theiphoneblog.com/cross-platform-other-gadgets/176965-new-competitor-nokia-n900.html

Rene has a day job as well. He will usually correct stories later in the day.

Some parts of the story are still un-contested.

This lets you use ANY AppStore app that’s restricted to running over WiFi on 3G.

http://www.betanews.com/article/Googles-Rubin-Android-isnt-blocking-VoIP-despite-claims/1250877744

Thanks! This story really needs an update. In this article below, PC World asked Skype and they said this:

Skype confirmed that it developed Skype Lite because Android did not support a full-featured version of the VoIP service.

http://tinyurl.com/lclc89

GOOD CATCH: “As we told USA Today earlier in the week Google did not reject an application from Skype or from any other company that provides VoIP services. ” –Google.

@Rene – UPDATE to story needed.

Google Voice is not a VOIP app. It still uses cell minutes.

That is true today.

If you jailbreak, or if the app store rejection is overturned then you will be able to use GV on wifi, and someday on 3G via your data plan. No cell minutes involved.

You can use Skype this way today (wifi only). This is what makes the outright rejection of GV by Apple so maddening.

The FCC is just starting its investigation bigtime on Thursday: http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2009/08/fcc-launches-three-pronged-probe-into-wireless-industry.ars

Ars Technica says Skype is pushing the FCC to apply Carterfone to the wireless telephone network, (and the internet in general it would seem). This will allow Apple to provide far more services by using the carriers as dumb pipes.

This would be great for all mobile users and opens up a world of possibilities. Of course some of the freedoms thus gained might apply to Apple too, (handset unlocking, carrier exclusivity) but I suspect Apple has already started down the path to removing those restrictions as they cease to be in Apple’s interest the minute ATT’s contract expires.

@Dev: Your assessment is spot on. I am SO tired of people jumping to Apple’s defense like it was a helpless puppy caught in traffic. Apple isn’t even the target of the FCC here, and may well be one of the parties complaining to the FCC about ATT’s actions.

Also, as your reading comprehension catches up with your spelling ability, you will see people supported the FCC GOING AFTER AT&T for misuse of their spectrum license, and not Apple at all.

And to be honest, I think Apple is doing the same thing. I have some suspicions about the intended purpose of the huge data center they are building. I would not be the least surprised if the are blocking GV so that iPhone users will be more open to iVoice in the near future.

-I’m glad to hear about this, it only prooves my point that anyone who supports the FCC against apple is a complete MORON.