BusinessWeek reported today that Apple and Microsoft are currently in negotiations to replace Google as the default search engine on the iPhone with Microsoft’s Bing.com. The talks have reportedly been underway for weeks.
The increasing rivalry between Google and Apple is noted as one of the primary reasons behind the talks.
“Apple and Google know the other is their primary enemy,” says one of the people, who’s familiar with Apple’s thinking. “Microsoft is now a pawn in that battle.”
Google’s recent acquisition of mobile ad leader AdMob and Apple’s acquisition of competing ad platform Quattro Wireless is just one example of the increased tension between Apple and Google. Google CEO Eric Schmidt announced his resignation from the Apple Board in August of 2009 as the companies’ completing platforms and services in the mobile space increased the potential for a conflict of interest.
Apple has even been looking into another maps platform for the iPhone. Could Bing Maps for iPhone be next?
iPhone…meet Silverlight!
Wed, Jan 20, 2010
Featured, General, Silverlight