Apple and AT&T have had an agreement since the launch of the App Store that limited VoIP applications to WiFi networks. But AT&T has now reversed that policy, announcing that VoIP apps on the iPhone are now welcome to operate over the carrier’s 3G wireless broadband network. The change comes just a day after Vonage announced the availability of its own VoIP application that works over both WiFi and 3G networks.
“iPhone is an innovative device that dramatically changed the game in wireless when it was introduced just two years ago,” said AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega in a statement. “Today’s decision was made after evaluating our customers’ expectations and use of the device compared to dozens of others we offer.”
The key factor there, and of course the most infuriating, is that there were no such barriers for Blackberry handhelds or Windows Mobile devices.
Nonetheless, maybe this paves the way for the much-desired Google Voice app, which is really all I’ve been wanting that I don’t already have. I usually don’t like the government meddling in things, but I can’t help but think that their meddling may have actually done some good in this case.