Google Voice Finally Returns to the iPhone

From DailyTech: Google Voice became the face of complaints about both AT&T's service policies and Apple's App Store policy. The app, which would allow for free SMS texts and domestic calls (using data rather than the voice network), was set to promise iPhone owners a way to escape pricey voice packages. In the eleventh hour, though, it was, perhaps unsurprisingly, rejected and devolved into an FCC inquiry and back-and-forth between Apple, AT&T, and Google.

Despite harsh criticism from AT&T, which claims Google is breaking federal telecommunications laws by blocking premium phone numbers (such as phone sex lines), Google Voice is finally back in action on the iPhone. Rather than try to wade through the App Store submissions process again and likely be rejected, Google this time opted for a web app, accessible via the iPhone's browser.

The new HTML5 app is tailor-fit for the iPhone and Palm smartphones (webOS), though it will work on any HTML5-ready phone. Texting is easy, but calling has been partially crippled.

Basically, to call you still have to place a call to a random Google number. This means that downsides are that your call history will be filled with random numbers and you will still pay for the minutes. The upsides, though, are that you can use the service as a means to mask or screen calls on your mobile, and you can get international calls at much lower rates.

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