That was FaceTime, and it was because it was a peer-to-peer protocol. Then Apple was sued over a patent and had to implement a more normal design, where it pays for and runs the servers. Apple didn't want to run the servers for Android people to talk to each other.
Can you point to a source for that outside your memory?
I figured that was the case. I just wanted one of these folks that keep claiming it to cough up some evidence. It's a tired thing. There are lots of things to criticize Apple (and most companies) for, at least pick something that isn't imaginary.
I guess. But I swear I remember it was about iMessage. oh well, my bad.