Google launched the redevelopment of its telecommunications system, rebranded as Google Voice, early this year, and it has taken a long time for one question to be answered. That question was, how will the program fare when it comes to smartphones? With the rejection of Google’s application for inclusion in Apple’s App Store, the question appears to be answered.

The program itself is a step to the side somewhat for the search engine company. Google Voice is a telecommunications service which handles vocal communication in a number of ways, including forwarding transcripts of voice mail, routing calls to several numbers via a central Google number, and online calling. The service, launched to replace Google’s Grand Central in March this year, is starting out just in the US, but presumably will be expanded if successful.

Its success, however, is now in doubt. Apple had started to remove all applications that were enabled for Google Voice before the official decision came through. Then, six weeks after Google had submitted Google Voice for inclusion in the App Store, the final rejection came.

Apple’s official reason for rejecting Google Voice was because the application had several features already well covered by Apple’s own products, and also because it messed with Apple’s interface. This could certainly be true, but just as certainly isn’t the whole truth. The search engine giant has quietly but determinedly been making moves on the Smartphone manufacturer for the last couple of years, trying to establish Google applications as the base of mobile internet. Apple has just as determinedly been holding the search engine off.

Google hasn’t taken the rejection without a fight. The matter was drawn to the attention of America’s Federal Communications Commission, although Apple stood by its reasoning.

This whole thing is of extreme interest to the SEO community. This is because of what it might indicate about the future of mobile browsing. At the moment, Apple still has the market cornered on the intelligent mobile field with iPhone. Internet users are increasing their use of mobile browsing, and many businesses have designed mobile-friendly versions of their site so as not to lose out on this valuable market.

With their rejection of Google Voice, Apple may be laying down the gauntlet when it comes to mobile browsing as well. Apple has an understandable interest in protecting the popularity of its programs. After all, the company is the same one that clawed some of the home computer market away from IBM after decades of persistence. It’s going to be interesting to see whether the company will continue to guard its mobile search interests, and how this will affect the search engine industry.

The development of mobile browsing is of definite interest to any business with an online presence. As everyone waits to see who will be the mobile Google, many businesses are already making plans to better appeal to the mobile market. If you would like to see how your website will cope with mobile developments, talk to us at SEO Consult.