Apple hates Google. It’s that simple.

Lets think this through, shall we?  Apple pulls Google Voice for no apparent reason, and everyone’s tossing blame at AT&T for the application’s yankage.  While I’m no fan of Telcos, there’s probably more evidence that it’s a spat between Apple and Google than there is AT&T pushing the panic button.  Lets take the blinders off for a second.

1. Apple approves applications that use Google voice technology.
2. Apple’s Phil Schiller personally approves one of these applications.
3. ?
4. Apple yanks Google voice apps because it duplicates iPhone functionality.

I’d really like to know what step three was because something smells rotten in the state of Cupertino.  The simple answer is to start hurling poop at AT&T for putting pressure on Apple to remove applications that are directly conflicting with their phone services, and while that’s a logical conclusion, putting all the blame on AT&T is a little bit unfair here.  The history between Google applications on the iPhone offers us a little bit of a window to look through here.  Does Google have any application on the AppStore that isn’t just a web portal to their services?  The obvious answer is no. Can we take a quick gander backwards here and look at the facts surrounding the original Google App snub by Apple?

Here’s a timeline of some Google news from the last ~ year

2008:  Apple throws some hurdles at Google for their Application, and google ultimately needs to create a web portal because they broke Apple’s rules.

July 7, 2009 – Google Announces Chrome OS.

July 23, 2009 – It’s reported that Apple tells Google that they need to make Latitude a Web App instead of a native iPhone App.

July 27, 2009 – Apple yanks GV Mobile (Unofficial Google Voice App)

July 28, 2009 – Apple flat our rejects the Google Voice App.

Noticing a trend here?  It seems like Apple and Google have had quite the spat going on for a while despite a member of Google’s team being on Apple’s Board of Directors.

Google does something, then Apple reacts harshly, as if they’re punishing Google.  Google breaks the rules with there very first iPhone app, Apple turns around and tells them they need to make it a web portal.  Google announces Chrome OS, Apple tells them Latitude needs to be a WebApp, yanks GV Mobile, and Rejects Google Voice.

While correlation might not equal causation here, there is a possibility that this whole thing has to do with Apple protecting itself from the threat of Google.  We don’t like it, and frankly it reeks of desperation, if it’s the case, but to immediately blame AT&T, given the previously stated history, would be a little more than presumptuous at this time.