Google Voice Avoids Apple’s Blockade With HTML5
Google Voice Bypasses Apple’s Blockade
If you’ve been an iPhone user for awhile now you probably remember the Google Voice app that surfaced in Apples App store for a brief period of time only to get blocked by Apple very quickly. As you could imagine, Google did not take very kindly to this gesture.
And now they have released Google Voice as a web based application leveraging HTML5 and can be accessed by the iPhone’s Safari browser. Simply go to http://google.com/voice. Currently Google is only accepting invitations only, but the app will soon be open to the public and you can always request an invite as well.
Google Voice works on iPhone 3.0 OS and higher, let’s users send and receive text messages for free, and uses the Google Voice number as a outbound caller ID so you can receive return calls straight to your iPhone. You can even call international at Google Voice discounted rates.
The app has an AppCache feature that lets users interact with the Internet without a network connection. You can even store data locally on your device and add shortcuts to the home screen of the dialer, inbox, and contacts for a more ‘app like’ feel.
Google Voice offers a more app like experience with speeds matching those of a native app on the iPhone. But there still is a big difference between a real iPhone app and a web based application. For example, you won’t have access to certain components of the iPhone like your contacts, therefore you would have to create a second duplicate version for use on the web.
But on the other hand, this means that you are not tied to your device. You could make calls from anyone’s phone with an Internet connection if you iPhone got misplaced somehow.
Are Apps A Thing Of The Past?
Now that Google Voice has bypassed Apples blockade of their application is this starting a new trend?
iPhone apps have only been around for a short amount of time. (about 1 1/2 years) and they have created all the rage in the marketplace. They have even inspired other mobile device companies to develop apps like Blackberry and Android. But with the coming of HTML5, and coding language that aims to reduce the needs of plugins like Adobe Flash, Microsoft, Sunlight, and Sun Java we may be seeing a massive decline in native iPhone apps and be moving in the direction of web based applications.
With HTML5 you can now build a single application with HTML and Javascript and have it work across virtually all mobile operating systems without having to code it specifically to each device’s custom firmware.
However, it’s still important to point out that desktop computers went through this phase a few years ago. While many applications like Aviary may be exceptionally cool and work great they still don’t come anywhere close to comparing with Photoshop, Dreamweaver, or Final Cut Pro which are software apps.
My prediction is that you will see mobile devices move in the same direction. Keeping apps that do powerful tasks, similar to Photoshop and Final Cut Pro native to the iPhone where as simpler things like Google Voice will become all web based applications.
AT&T Is Getting Scared Stiff
Google Voice may be a beautiful app for iPhone users but it’s going to cause AT&T some major problems in the near future as well as any other phone company who relies on customers to purchase a calling plan from them month to month. That form of business is coming to an end and AT&T just needs to accept it.
You see, with Google Voice iPhone users will never have to pay for anything other than a data plan ever again. They can simply make calls for free over the Internet. This type of technology has existed for many years now and has been vigorously fought against by all the major phone companies like AT&T because they know it’s going to cut their business in half.
Then they won’t be able to pay their CEO’s 7 figure salaries anymore. What a shame…
I’m still not sure what to expect from AT&T though, because if they attack this app then it’s going to be obvious they are scared and will make them out to be the bad guys instead of Apple banning the app in the first place.
It’s your move AT&T, what are you gonna do?
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