Got a tip for us? Share it...

Google CEO Eric Schmidt to Discuss Role on Apple's Board in Wake of Chrome OS Announcement

Reuters reports that Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who has served on Apple's Board of Directors since 2006, will discuss with Apple how his role on the board may change in the wake of increasing overlap between the two companies' markets. The report comes just one day after Google announced that it will be entering the operating system market with Chrome OS, initially targeted at netbook computers.

Because Google's new Chrome OS would compete with Apple's own computer software, Schmidt said on Thursday he would talk to the Mac computer maker about whether he should recuse himself from Apple's board.

"I'll talk to the Apple people. At the moment, there's no issue," Schmidt told reporters at a Sun Valley media and technology conference organized by boutique investment bank Allen & Co.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission last month reportedly began taking an interest in the two companies' ties for potential antitrust reasons, as both Schmidt and Arthur Levinson, former CEO of biotech firm Genentech, are directors of both Apple and Google.

With Google's release of its Android operating system for mobile phones, Schmidt has recused himself from discussions regarding the iPhone at Apple board meetings, and it now appears that the operating system overlap between the two companies may necessitate further restrictions on Schmidt's participation with Apple, if not an outright resignation if potential solutions are deemed unworkable.

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

34 months ago
interesting. if it is anything like "Google's release of it's Android mobile phone" then i see no reason that he should step down as it will also be quickly forgotten ;)
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
34 months ago
Time to step down. If the guy can't be fully briefed on the happenings of the company then there becomes less and less point keeping him around. He may already be looking for a way out and this was a subtle (not so subtle) way of doing it.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
34 months ago
well, he should not discuss his role in the future.

he should discuss his role over the past 12 month.

google certainly worked on the chrome OS and the related business strategy for the past year. and sitting on the board of a company startegically based on a cutting edge OS certainly helped a lot.;)
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
34 months ago
"Come in Agent Schmidt! Your work is done. The turtle has left the ocean. REPEAT: The turtle has left the ocean."
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
34 months ago
He may simply be playing some games with Jobs....these guys think alike, according to what I see and read. With MSFT tying to horn in on Google with BING and Apple's shared disdain for them, you never know! You are assuming that this isn't something that they have been planning. Jobs thinks way, waaay ahead. Either he's furious that Google is treading on their turf, or there may be a long-term goal or opponent in the marketplace the two companies share.

Don't scream mutiny quite yet...
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
34 months ago
I was thinking about this the other day.

Certainly an interesting situation. I don't see google's OS going very far though.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
34 months ago
Resign from Apple's board, Schmidt. "Dont Be Evil". :p
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
34 months ago

He may simply be playing some games with Jobs....these guys think alike, according to what I see and read. With MSFT tying to horn in on Google with BING and Apple's shared disdain for them, you never know! You are assuming that this isn't something that they have been planning. Jobs thinks way, waaay ahead. Either he's furious that Google is treading on their turf, or there may be a long-term goal or opponent in the marketplace the two companies share.

Don't scream mutiny quite yet...


I tried bing the other day. I hate it.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
34 months ago

I was thinking about this the other day.

Certainly an interesting situation. I don't see google's OS going very far though.


You are right. It wont go too far IMO.

Will its wallpaper be randomly changing ads? :confused: :D ;)
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
34 months ago
Why don't Google and Apple merge and just get it over with?
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives

[ Read All Comments ]