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Google to Block Third-party iPhone SMS App
Techtree News Staff, Mar 12, 2009 1642 hrs ISTWill continue to offer free SMSes through Google Talk
Google is all set to block an iPhone application that allowed users in the US to send free text messages using Gtalk.
The application - Infinite SMS - was launched last month and in no time became one of the 10 most-downloaded applications on the app store. The application was available for $0.99 for the iPhone and the iPod. All that users had to do was to install the application and use it to send text messages using their Gtalk accounts. Infinite SMS has now been taken off by its developers Inner Fence.
This was owing to complaints from Google saying that the third-party application was using its servers to send free text messages, which was costing Google money. In a statement on its website, Inner Fence has posted a message citing reasons for the removal, which reads "Google has claimed no grievance with Infinite SMS other than its success. Their given reason for the block isn't abuse or wrongdoing, it's that we brought too many users (and thus too much cost) to an experimental service."
According to Inner Fence, the application was built using an open protocol made available by Google itself, who back then could not have envisaged the potential pitfall that this might turn into.
Google on its part says that it will continue to offer free SMSes through Google Talk - but added that the company does not endorse third-party users using the free service as a means of revenue and that it will block any such attempts by third-party developers.
The application - Infinite SMS - was launched last month and in no time became one of the 10 most-downloaded applications on the app store. The application was available for $0.99 for the iPhone and the iPod. All that users had to do was to install the application and use it to send text messages using their Gtalk accounts. Infinite SMS has now been taken off by its developers Inner Fence.
This was owing to complaints from Google saying that the third-party application was using its servers to send free text messages, which was costing Google money. In a statement on its website, Inner Fence has posted a message citing reasons for the removal, which reads "Google has claimed no grievance with Infinite SMS other than its success. Their given reason for the block isn't abuse or wrongdoing, it's that we brought too many users (and thus too much cost) to an experimental service."
According to Inner Fence, the application was built using an open protocol made available by Google itself, who back then could not have envisaged the potential pitfall that this might turn into.
Google on its part says that it will continue to offer free SMSes through Google Talk - but added that the company does not endorse third-party users using the free service as a means of revenue and that it will block any such attempts by third-party developers.
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kumaraswamy
,hyderabad, on Oct 30, 2009 10:21 PM
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shayan
,karachi, on Mar 13, 2009 12:47 AM
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,xamar, on Mar 12, 2009 07:27 PM
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,Chico, on Mar 12, 2009 05:17 PM
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