27054 0 3 econsultancy_xml <p> <em>"Like Apple, Google is very focused on innovation and we think Eric’s insights and experience will be very valuable in helping to guide Apple in the years ahead,”</em> said Apple CEO Steve Jobs, in a <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/aug/29bod.html">statement</a>.</p> <p>Schmidt said: <em>“I'm really looking forward to working with Steve and Apple’s board to help with all of the amazing things Apple is doing.”</em></p> <p>The appointment may signal intent on behalf of the two companies to cooperate more closely in a bid to challenge Microsoft, with some commentators openly predicting a merger between Google and Apple. </p> <p>Is this a move towards lining up Schmidt as Jobs’ replacement? <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/29/apple_board_schmidt/">Conspiracy theories abound</a>.</p> <p>Does this suggest that we can finally bury all the rumours about 'Google Music'? Well, if Google and Apple were going to be competing head-to-head then surely Schmidt wouldn’t have accepted the position. Should they do so in future, there will be a conflict of interests and he’ll presumably have to step down.</p> <p>So perhaps ‘Google Music’ is dead, or was never going to happen. Either that or we’re going to see a fairly sizeable iTunes + Google tie-up. </p> <p>Watch this space, especially if you are Steve Ballmer...</p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Quote>"Like Apple, Google is very focused on innovation and we think Eric’s insights and experience will be very valuable in helping to guide Apple in the years ahead,”</Quote> said Apple CEO Steve Jobs, in a <Link URL="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/aug/29bod.html" Window="New">statement</Link>.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>Schmidt said: <Quote>“I'm really looking forward to working with Steve and Apple’s board to help with all of the amazing things Apple is doing.”</Quote></Paragraph> <Paragraph>The appointment may signal intent on behalf of the two companies to cooperate more closely in a bid to challenge Microsoft, with some commentators openly predicting a merger between Google and Apple. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Is this a move towards lining up Schmidt as Jobs’ replacement? <Link URL="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/29/apple_board_schmidt/" Window="New">Conspiracy theories abound</Link>.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>Does this suggest that we can finally bury all the rumours about 'Google Music'? Well, if Google and Apple were going to be competing head-to-head then surely Schmidt wouldn’t have accepted the position. Should they do so in future, there will be a conflict of interests and he’ll presumably have to step down.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>So perhaps ‘Google Music’ is dead, or was never going to happen. Either that or we’re going to see a fairly sizeable iTunes + Google tie-up. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Watch this space, especially if you are Steve Ballmer...</Paragraph> </FormattedContent> 2006-08-30T11:51:00+01:00 0 1 econsultancy_xml <p> <strong>Apple has pulled off a coup by luring Google CEO Eric Schmidt to its board of directors, in a move that was announced late last night.</strong> </p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Apple has pulled off a coup by luring Google CEO Eric Schmidt to its board of directors, in a move that was announced late last night.</Emphasis> </Paragraph> </FormattedContent> false 211 361604 Apple elects Google CEO Schmidt to board false 2006-08-30T11:51:00+01:00 apple-elects-google-ceo-schmidt-to-board 2009-04-28T22:32:51+01:00 2009-04-28T22:32:51+01:00 222