FreedomVoice Heard in Apple Debate on New York Times

The New York Times published a 3,000 word article on Saturday, Dec 5, 2009, commenting on the rise of the Apple App Store. Much of the article was positive. It even ends with a warm and fuzzy quote, making us feel that the iPhone symbolizes a monumental evolution in technology.

“People will look back on the iPhone as a turning point in the industry,” says Craig Moffett, a telecom analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein. “The iPhone will be remembered as the first true handheld computer.”

It’s nice to see the level of enthusiasm and optimism surrounding Apple. Of course, the FreedomVOICE experience with Apple was somewhat different. Here is text mentioning FreedomVoice taken directly from the New York Times article.

FreedomVoice Systems, a company in San Diego, couldn’t wait to roll out a mobile version of its telephone software for the iPhone. The company submitted an application to the App Store last year and excitedly waited. And waited. And kept waiting.

“We’re facing 396 days with no contact from Apple,” says Eric Thomas, chief executive of FreedomVoice. “The app has been ‘pending’ in the App Store for a year.”

Mr. Thomas says he understands that it is Apple’s decision whether to accept his app. “But the idea they wouldn’t tell us it was a no — or even why — so we could try to do something about it,” he said, “is a very strange and unneighborly approach.”

For the record, FreedomVoice is glad that many have experienced success with App Store. As an honest and hardworking company, we know that success does not come easy, so it is good to see others do well through this channel. Unfortunately, this was not the case with for us in this circumstance. And while we’ve moved on to bigger and better things, we will still always remain a little confused about the lack of communication from Apple regarding our app.

While the New York Times article was well done, it did leave out some very positive things which we are currently working on at FreedomVoice. The article did not mention anything about the tremendous success we’ve been having with the FreedomIQ Hosted VoIP PBX. Or the steadfast virtual phone systems we have built much of our business on, which is still seeing excellent growth.

Regardless of what was said or not said, we’re pretty happy to be covered by the New York Times.

You can read the full article here.

We’re hoping that next time we are covered by the New York Times it will be for something great! Keep an eye on us; we have some exciting projects in the works.