Remember the six questions Apple was supposed to respond to FCC? FCC intervened after discontentments were voiced when Google Voice app was rejected and all applications that support voice service were pulled from the App Store. 

The questions seek to know; reasons for rejecting Google Voice app and removal of other applications from the App Store, the approval process of apps, etc. 

Well, Apple has given the response to all the questions in a very diplomatic style and somewhat emotional way, which you’ll also know are not all acceptable. Moreover, Apple said they have not rejected Google Voice app, but clarified that the app is still being reviewed. You’ll find the response here. 

There were allegation that AT&T is indirectly behind the rejection of Google Voice app. I too thought the carrier could have played a role, but Apple’s response made it clear that the company acted on its own decisions. 

As expected, we now have a glimpse of Apple’s app rejection policy. Here is an excerpt from the response:

Most rejections are based on the application containing quality issues or software bugs, while other rejections involve protecting consumer privacy, safeguarding children from inappropriate content, and avoiding applications that degrade the core experience of the iPhone. Given the volume and variety of technical issues, most of the review process is consumed with quality issues and software bugs, and providing feedback to developers so they can fix applications. Applications that are fixed and resubmitted are approved.

Regarding the mystery on why application approval process takes so long, we have an implicit response too. It could be partly because of the staggering number of submissions every week. Apple revealed that there are about 8,500 new apps and updates submissions every week. 

The company claimed they have reviewed more than 200,000 applications since App Store went live. That’s impressive!

Apple suggested Google is welcome to deploy the rejected application as a web app; as if they still have control over there.