Google Voice is upsetting the business model of AT&T, Verizon and others by offering free
everything!
This service is a real game-changer. Google Voice offers users a single number for their cell, home phone, office phone and more to ring on. Other features include free voicemail, call forwarding and conference calling.
It also offers free unlimited long distance calling in the continental United States and cheap calls overseas. This could be very beneficial for someone with a monopoly landline who has to pay for expensive long distance calls.
In addition, Google Voice has unlimited free text messaging. That means you don't need to pay for it from a cell phone provider. As you might imagine, texting is a massive profit center for the cell providers.
When it emerged that Google Voice was banned from the iPhone, Clark and many others immediately automatically blamed AT&T. Now a recently revealed filing from their contract with Apple proves that assumption correct.
While that's bad enough, what's really troubling is the net neutrality angle. What gives your cell phone carrier the right to be judge, jury and executioner and prevent you from accessing what you want online? And who says they'll stop at your cell phone? Imagine getting internet service through a monopoly company and being told you can't visit a website that they're blocking.