The Mobile Internet Report Key Themes*

Closed App Store Model Has Challenged iPhone Developers / Users –
Application Rejections / Limitations; Opportunity for Android
App Name
Function
Censor /
Date
Rejection / Limitation
Official (Speculated) Reasoning
Google Voice
Universal phone
number / free
SMS / low-cost
VoIP call
Apple
(7/09)
Official app on hold for
review; all 3rd party apps
using Google Voice services
rejected
Duplicating iPhone’s native dialer /
contact book / SMS function + uploading
user contact book to Google server
iTweetReply
Twitter client
Apple
(7/09)
Rejected
UI elements look the same as native
iPhone SMS app, causing confusion
Sling Player
Streams TV
signal to PC /
mobile terminals
AT&T
(5/09)
Limited to Wi-Fi only
Redirecting TV signal to a personal
computer specifically prohibited under
terms of service (too much stress to
AT&T’s overburdened 3G network)
Skype
Free VoIP calls /
IM to Skype
users; low-cost
VoIP calls to
phones
Various
Carriers*
(3/09)
Limited to Wi-Fi only for
SkypeOut calls;
Banned from 3G & carrierowned
Wi-Fi networks by T-
Mobile Germany
VoIP user experience over 3G subpar
3G network is shared utility
NCAA March
Madness
Streams live
video to mobile
AT&T
(3/09)
Live video streaming limited
to Wi-Fi only
None (3G network could not handle
capacity demand)
Google
Latitude
Share location
with friends on
Google Maps
Apple
(CH1:09)
Local app rejected;
Re-launched as web app
Causing confusion with native iPhone
Maps app
Podcaster
Browse / listen to
podcasts
Apple
(9/08)
Rejected
Duplicating iTunes function
Note: AT&T has lifted restriction on VoIP over 3G in 10/09.
Source: Google Mobile Blog, Skype, Engadget, PC World, Morgan Stanley Research. 182