The application has not been approved because, as submitted for review, it appears to alter the iPhone’s distinctive user experience by replacing the iPhone’s core mobile telephone functionality and Apple user interface with its own user interface for telephone calls, text messaging and voicemail. -- http://www.apple.com/hotnews/apple-answers-fcc-questions/
This kind of speculation is unnecessary. There's been plenty written on this subject, including statements from Google, Apple and AT&T. The fact of the matter is that Apple thinks GV will confuse iPhone owners because it replaces the phone's native dialing functionality, among other things. It's similar to the reasons Apple gave for rejecting Google Latitude (i.e. replacing native functionality), although that rejection was a lot more bogus.
So it's not bad for Apple, only bad for the Apple-AT&T relationship? Apple might as well not care and happily approve the app if such terms didn't exist?
No, Apple seems to think it's bad for Apple. If you read the companies' statements to the FCC it's clear that AT&T was not involved and that it was purely Apple's decision to reject the GV app.
"Apple might as well not care and happily approve the app if such terms didn't exist?"
Likely so. Note that there is a Skype app for the iPhone but it is restricted such that it will only make voice calls through wifi. It's rumored that AT&T has been opposed to VoIP traffic over its 3G data network though it has just recently finished work necessary to make such things feasible and may reverse its earlier decisions (paving the way for full-featured skype and google voice iPhone apps).
But GV isn't a VoIP service. So AT&T opening up its 3G network to VoIP traffic will have no effect on Apple's decision to accept or reject a GV app, and it can't have played any part in the original rejection.
How is Google Voice not VoIP? When one uses Google Voice one's voice is transmitted over an IP network, that seems to be the very definition of VoIP. Attempting to claim otherwise would seem to be to play semantic games.
I'm sorry, but you are mistaken. Your voice is not transmitted over an IP network with Google Voice. That's why it's not VoIP. There are no semantic games involved. Since I feel like I've beat this to death a few times before, I'll just point you to this: http://www.itworld.com/print/75774.
And yes the Wikipedia entry for Google Voice is mistaken. I should probably fix that for them...
