Google Voice for iPhone web app in the works

While the Federal Communications Commission continues its investigation into Apple's decision to reject the Google Voice application for the iPhone, Google isn't sitting idly by--the digital services giant is reportedly working on a web-based version that promises to retain the functionality of the native calling service app. New York Times technology guru David Pogue first alluded to the Google Voice for iPhone app, writing "Google says it is readying a replacement for the Google Voice app that will offer exactly the same features as the rejected app--except that it will take the form of a specialized, iPhone-shaped Web page. For all intents and purposes, it will behave exactly the same as the app would have; you can even install it as an icon on your Home screen."

Although Google has not officially confirmed the iPhone app is in the pipeline, it hasn't denied the report either. "Apple did not approve the Google Voice application we submitted six weeks ago to the Apple App Store," a Google spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement published by InformationWeek. "We will continue to work to bring our services to iPhone users, for example by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers."

There is strong precedent for a browser-based Google Voice app for iPhone: In late July, Google announced its Latitude mobile friend-finder service is now available for the iPhone and iPod touch as a web application running in Safari. "We worked closely with Apple to bring Latitude to the iPhone in a way Apple thought would be best for iPhone users," wrote Google Mobile Team product manager Mat Balez on the Official Google Mobile Blog. "After we developed a Latitude application for the iPhone, Apple requested we release Latitude as a web application in order to avoid confusion with Maps on the iPhone, which uses Google to serve maps tiles."

For more on the Google Voice web app:
- read this InformationWeek article