Eric Schmidt Resigns from Apple’s Board of Directors

Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt has just stepped down from Apple’s Board of Directors, a role that many claimed created conflicts of interest as both Apple and Google compete with each other in several market sectors.

Specifically, Google's Android phone is in direct competition with Apple’s iPhone.  Also, the soon-to-be-released Chrome OS will make for some conflict in the operating system arena.  As recently as last week, the FCC started investigating Apple’s rejection of the Google Voice app from the App Store.  Schmidt has been under increasing amounts of pressure to deal with the issue.

Here is the official press release:

Dr. Eric Schmidt Resigns from Apple’s Board of Directors

CUPERTINO, California—August 3, 2009—Apple® today announced that Dr. Eric Schmidt, chief executive officer of Google, is resigning from Apple’s Board of Directors, a position he has held since August 2006.

“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, Apple’s CEO. “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.”

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

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• F.C.C. Looking Into Rejection of Google App for iPhone (nytimes.com)
• Steve Jobs hates the App Store (factoryjoe.com)

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Technorati Tags: Android, Apple, Eric Schmidt, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, Google, Google Android, Google Voice, iPhone

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