GeeKs Blogging @ dotCOM

Google versus Apple – It’s official now

“Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple’s Board” said Apple’s Steve Jobs.

Apple officially announced on 3rd August that Dr. Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, is resigning from Apple’s Board of Directors, a position he has held since August 2006.

This was already very evident the way it was going. Things had gotten murky with FTC initiating investigations looking into the Google-Apple partnership. Chrome OS announcement was just the final nail in the coffin.

It was initially a game more of “An enemy’s enemy is my friend” concept. Google and Apple had come together to form a wall against the potential rival, Microsoft. They had done substantial bit together and tried promoting the offensive. As I say, “Offence is the BEST form of Defence”!

Things started going bad when Google introduced a straight competition to Apple’s iPhone, with the Android Mobile Operating System. Android was pitched in direct competition to the iPhone. As a result, Eric had to repeatedly excuse himself from the Apple Board meetings whenever the talks of iPhone came up.

Meanwhile, the FTC in the US initiated investigations looking into the Google-Apple partnerships working towards Monopolistic Trade Practices.

It got really complicated with the Google announcement of Chrome Operating System. This opened a new front in the battle, as it is now pitched directly against Apple’s OS/X as much as it is against Microsoft’s Windows. With the increasing difficulties for Eric Schmidt, the best way out was this announcement.

Though this may mean that Apple and Google are no longer friends, it also means that now it is a game of Google versus Microsoft versus Apple. All in all, a benefit for the end user from the increased competition. My prediction, “Expect more vendor locking issues from here on”. Let the game begin.

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