Google vs Apple: Round III - The UpStream

In what seems to be a week of updates, Google's redacted FCC filing finally got published. You remember weeks ago when we talked about how the FCC was investigating the Google Voice rejection from the Apple App Store. If you didn't read it, here's a quick recap. AT&T was quick to place the finger of blame upon Apple, which caused the FCC to file an investigation into the matter which also triggered a deeper look into wireless exclusivity. The FCC asked all three parties to respond. AT&T stayed its course, Google's filing was redacted and edited -- which seemed weird to us -- and Apple said it didn't reject the software. But they also stated they didn't accept it. So what the hell was going on? Turns out we found the (somewhat) missing puzzle piece.

Google's redacted filing was finally published. Upon reading it, we found some rather interesting details. Google claims Apple's SVP of Worldwide Product Marketing, Phil Schiller personally rejected the application on July 7th in a phone call with Alan Eustace of Google for duplication of functionality.

The document goes on to later state that the Google Latitude app was also rejected on April 10th because it might "offer new features not present on the preloaded maps application." Sounds to me like Apple's story is seeming more and more crazy.

But wait. It gets better. Apple released a public statement saying that they "do not agree with all of the statements made by Google in their FCC letter. Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application and we continue to discuss it with Google."

Here's what's got us confused. Google, while evil and demonic, are a pretty smart group of people. Something had to have been said in that phone call to lead them to: 1) think that the apps were rejected and 2) call the fellas at the freakin' FCC about it!

We think Google and Apple need to hug it out, and AT&T needs to serve the punch. Your thoughts?