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Google stands by Apple as a 'valuable partner'

(Mobile World Congress) Amid rumors of dissension between Google and Apple and a potential Microsoft Bing partnership for the iPhone, a Google executive has insisted all is well between the two companies.

According to Reuters, Vic Gundotra, head of mobile engineering for Google, said his company believes they will remain partners with Apple for some time to come. Google's Android mobile platform and forthcoming entrance into the netbook market with Chrome OS have seen the search giant enter into Apple's market, while Apple's purchase of Quattro Wireless has brought the Cupertino, Calif., company into the advertising business.

"Apple is a very close and valuable partner, and we're very excited about the relationship we have with them today," Gundotra said. "We have no reason to believe that's going to change."

The Google official also declined to comment on numerous rumors that Apple and Microsoft are in talks to make Bing the official provider of search and maps on the iPhone. "We think that relationship is stable," Gundotra said of Google's partnership with Apple for the existing search and maps functionality on the iPhone.

The article also makes note of a "Nexus Two" smartphone, which it states is expected to be a new Android-powered handset with a sliding keyboard targeted at business users. On that, too, Gundotra declined to comment.

The Nexus Two is rumored to be a Motorola-made handset forthcoming. The Nexus One, released in January, was built by HTC and was the first Google-branded handset.

Gundotra noted that Google will take the best Android phones from its partners and highlight them. He said no decisions have been made about how many Google-branded phones there will be.

"We decided to take the flagship phones, the best phones that were available, and those would have Google branding," he said.



30 Comments

quadra 610 16 Years · 6685 comments

HTML5 has brought them together. It's touching.

solsun 20 Years · 757 comments

Quote:

"Apple is a very close and valuable partner, and we're very excited about the relationship we have with them today,"


Of course Google think Apple is a valuable partner... After Eric Schmidt sits on Apple's board for the past few years, we see Google move from strictly search to many of the same markets as Apple

Safari = Chrome
iPhone OS = Chrome OS
iPhone = Nexus one
iTunes Movie store = YouTube movie rentals
iBookstore = Google Bookstore

Not to mention the Quattro/AdMob debacle after Google outbid Apple..

Coincidence?? I think not... Eric Schmidt is definitely a very good note taker.

ghostface147 16 Years · 1628 comments

I think this is a precursor to them breaking up.

ireland 18 Years · 17436 comments

I never believed for a mo' Apple would make Bing the default search for the iPhone. Apple just leaked the rumor so they would have some monetary leverage when negotiating Google's position on the iPhone. The last Google wants is Bing taking over the iPhone, so they give Apple $100M.

Not that Bing is necessarily terrible, it's not.

russellsakay 15 Years · 181 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland

I never believed for a mo' Apple would make Bing the default search for the iPhone. Apple just leaked the rumor so they would have some monetary leverage when negotiating Google's position on the iPhone. The last Google wants is Bing taking over the iPhone, so they give Apple $100M.

Not that Bing is necessarily terrible, it's not.


Microsoft Bing is just another Hotbot. Microsoft is dying and their failure is competing in a Google Market. This is why the search selections on most all browsers are Google, and Yahoo. Microsoft has stretched themselves too thin with their hand in so many different products, each and everyone of them with a better choice as competition.

Bing vs Google
Xbox vs PS3
Windows vs OS X
etc

They are losing the battle.