In other news, Google yanks Apple iPhone from search results, claiming the built in Safari browser "duplicates functionality" of the Google search engine.

This makes me want to return the 3G I bought on Saturday, cancel my new AT&T contract and buy a G1. Between this and their growing shitty service (3g reception in SF is for ass), are they now _actively_ trying to turn customers away?

This is what happens when you let a platform control the software that's released on it. Absolutely crazy, short-sighted anti-competitive practices.

I don't mind Apple having an official AppStore where only the products they sanction show up, but at least provide a method for installing applications outside of the app store.

I'm on my second iPhone (first 2g, now 3gs), and there's a lot to like about it. Specifically, if it weren't for the iPhone, I don't think we'd have an Android or a Palm Pre right now. The carriers exerted so much control over their phones that nothing innovative could really happen.

However, now that Apple has opened up the playing field, I hope Android or Pre wins the market.

Apple should be careful here. This could be one of those game changer moments. The vast majority of the previous removals/denials were legitimate but Apple has already allowed VOIP applications and already allowed apps that duplicate functionality of the Dialer. There is no possible way Apple can walk this one back and make it look like anything other than anti-competitive behavior. Apple has enough leverage with carriers that they can dictate the rules now. What's AT&T going to do? Stop selling iPhones? Apple needs to flex their muscle on this.

"Yet another possibility is that Google’s official application is imminent, and the GV Mobile app was pulled to reduce confusion once that’s out (though this seems less likely)."

My initial thought was, OK, Google is probably prepping their own native app for release...likely or not, I hope its the case. I use the blackberry app almost exclusively for all my calls now and dont see going back to my BB's dialer.

Apple's recent actions at the app store are disconcerting to say the least...What about the skype app? Is that going to be (or has it been) yanked too?

I suppose its another reason to be happy I stuck with my BB ;)

Makes it see like Apple wants to make Jail-breaking your phone more appetizing then it already was...

*http://appulo.us/appdb/ - if your tired of apps being pulled that you really liked....

I have GV Movile on my iPodTouch and I use it for a lot of my calls. AT&T shouldn't be able to make Apple remove apps solely because of feature redundancy on one of the two platforms.

What about the skype app(s)?

Everyone always muses over whether Apple would be worse than Microsoft if they controlled the platform. I suppose now you can see your answer.

I'm hoping this means that Apple is planning on adding native Google Voice functionality in the 3.1 release.

A man can dream, right?

As an iPhone developer, this makes me really pissed. I was working on a (non-GV) app I was modeling off of GV mobile, and quite frankly I'm scared to submit it now. WTF Apple. The really scary thing is these rumors I keep hearing about the secret ninja app reviewers that call you instead of giving you something in writing because they're afraid it will get press.

Does anybody know what the rules are regarding ad-hoc distribution?

I believe that you can install your apps without going through the App Store if you have a developer license (either for debugging or through the ad-hoc process), right? So, now, could there be a network of people with developer licenses to deliver some open-source apps in that manner?

I just sort of realized how sick apple makes me after I "synced" and deleted a bunch of my apps off my iPhone from iTunes. Stuff like this doesn't help. I don't really think I'll be staying with them after the contact.

That's great news. The beginning of the end of the App store.