As Schmidt exits, Apple needs to reaffirm its love for Google
With the two companies competing in a growing number of areas, months of speculation and sniping have finally yielded to the inevitable. However, as the FCC begins an investigation of certain questionable aspects of the companies’ relationship, a big question mark continues to hang over their future dealings.
Apple has released a short statement stating what many had expected for some time now — Google CEO Eric Schmidt has left Apple’s board of directors.
“Eric has been an excellent Board member for Apple, investing his valuable time, talent, passion and wisdom to help make Apple successful,” said Steve Jobs. “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.”
See also:
— Google’s Schmidt may give up Apple board seat
— Chrome OS launch may change Google CEO’s Apple role
— Apple finds more antitrust trouble
— Google CEO defends his Apple board seat
Choosing sides…
Of course, the elephant in the room is the nascent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) probe of Apple’s rejection of Google Voice for iPhone, as well as the removal of previously approved Google Voice enabled apps from the App Store. The moves caused an uproar among users and pundits as it’s widely believed that AT&T forced, and not for the first time, Cupertino to block this free software from Google that competes with the wireless carrier’s own lucrative services, challenging their monopoly on the game changing handset.
Although Schmidt’s exit can easily be chalked up, as stated by Steve Jobs, to the growing number of areas whether the two companies compete, it’s hard to imagine that the Google Voice issue isn’t also a source of friction. Thereupon, Apple really needs to get clear about how good Google is for them — shared goals and technologies, not mention a big stable of software for the Mac and iPhone — and how little long term importance ultimately AT&T has.
That is, Google brings all sorts of joy to both Apple and its growing legions of Mac and iPhone users. AT&T has been a source of increasing pain and that situation only looks to get worse…
What’s your take?
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