Here's a rundown of what's happened so far and what to expect next:
In late July, Apple , a that lets users forward calls, transcribe voicemail, send free text messages and place cheap international calls. In addition the throwing out the official app, Apple removed third-party programs that channeled Google Voice independently. At the time AT&T denied that it lords over App Store decisions, though the carrier has crippled the functionality of .
Earlier this month, the FCC into the Google Voice fiasco. It's not an official investigation, but the FCC asked Apple and AT&T to explain why the app was rejected. Yesterday, a said Google was added to the hot seat, due to the limited capabilities of the Skype application for Android phones. Comments from all three companies are due today.
AT&T's Jim Cicconi, senior executive vice president for external and legislative affairs, issued statement accompanying its response to the FCC stating AT&T had no role in Apple's rejection of the Google Voice app.
"AT&T was not asked about the matter by Apple at any time, nor did it offer any view one way or the other," Cicconi wrote.
In , Vice President of Mobile Platforms Andy Rubin wrote that Google "did not reject an application from Skype or from any other company that provides VoIP services. To suggest otherwise is false." While technical limitations once prevented a full-featured Skype app, Rubin effectively blamed the current lack of true VoIP apps on developers, saying no one has submitted one yet. Rubin did acknowledge that wireless carriers can filter applications that violate their terms of service, though T-Mobile has denied that it weighed in on Skype.
Because this isn't an official investigation, it's not clear what the FCC is ultimately trying to determine, but in general the government wants to know why certain VoIP apps are being rejected and others are not. This goes to the issue of net neutrality, and whether handset makers and wireless carriers are stifling apps that could amount to competition. Also, this inquiry fits into the FCC's broader look at exclusivity deals between phone makers and wireless carriers.
In short, the good stuff. This whole fiasco has been pretty shady from the start, from the contradiction between AT&T's actions and public statements to Google's blame game over Skype for Android. I expect all three companies to wriggle and spin their comments, but in the end we should get a more thorough explanation of the situation than ever before. Ladies and gentlemen, your tax dollars at work.