NYT: Steve Jobs feels Google betrayed Apple by mimicking iPhone
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs feels that Google "violated the alliance" it had with Apple when the search giant began producing cellphones that resemble the iPhone, according to a The New York Times piece that details the bitter rivalry between the two technology giants.
In an extensive piece profiling the battle between Apple and Google, dubbed by one person as "World War III" due to the level of animosity involved, multiple sources told the Times that Jobs feels betrayed by Google.
"We did not enter the search business. They entered the phone business," Jobs was quoted as saying at a company meeting. "Make no mistake; Google wants to kill the iPhone. We won't let them."
The report also corroborated previous claims that Jobs used an expletive to dismiss Google's "don't be evil" mantra. The comment from the Apple co-founder reportedly earned "thunderous applause" from the company employees present at the meeting.
The Times noted that Jobs seems to be "unusually emotional" in the battle with Google. It said the company's lawsuit against HTC portrayed Apple as "an aggrieved victim finally standing up to the playground bully."
The report alleged that Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page considered Jobs a mentor, and were regular visitors to the company's Cupertino, Calif., campus. And while the relationship between Jobs and Google CEO Eric Schmidt was said to be pleasant, the two were reportedly "never close friends."
Relations between the two companies allegedly turned sour when the Android mobile operating system was first introduced. A series of heated meetings between Apple and Google executives took place soon after.
"Many of those meetings turned confrontational, according to people familiar with the discussions, with Mr. Jobs often accusing Google of stealing iPhone features," the report said. "Google executives said that Android?s features were based on longstanding ideas already circulating in the industry and that some Android prototypes predated the iPhone."
"At one particularly heated meeting in 2008 on Google?s campus, Mr. Jobs angrily told Google executives that if they deployed a version of multitouch ? the popular iPhone feature that allows users to control their devices with flicks of their fingers ? he would sue. Two people briefed on the meeting described it as 'fierce' and 'heated.'"
It was the introduction of Android, the Chrome browser, and Google's plans to release its own netbook operating system that forced Schmidt off of Apple's board of directors last August. It was soon after that the two began competing for acquisitions.
While it was previously known that Apple talked with AdMob about a potential acquisition, the Times revealed more details on the talks:
"While Apple conducted due diligence on the deal, AdMob agreed to a 45-day 'no shop' provision, a routine clause that prevented the start-up from offering itself for sale to others, according to three people briefed on the negotiations. But after Apple inexplicably let 45 days pass without consummating its offer, Google pounced."
Google purchased AdMob for $750 million three days after the "no shop" provision with Apple expired. One executive told the Times that Google was willing to pay the premium just to keep the company away from Apple. Soon after the deal was struck, Apple responded by acquiring competing mobile ad firm Quattro Wireless.
The report even mentions the persistent rumors that Apple could partner with Microsoft to make Bing the default search engine and maps provider for the iPhone. As usual, Apple declined to comment on anything for the story.
"And it would present an unlikely sight: Steve Jobs and Apple, running from the arms of Eric Schmidt and Google, into the embrace of Steve Ballmer and Microsoft," the report concluded.
In an extensive piece profiling the battle between Apple and Google, dubbed by one person as "World War III" due to the level of animosity involved, multiple sources told the Times that Jobs feels betrayed by Google.
"We did not enter the search business. They entered the phone business," Jobs was quoted as saying at a company meeting. "Make no mistake; Google wants to kill the iPhone. We won't let them."
The report also corroborated previous claims that Jobs used an expletive to dismiss Google's "don't be evil" mantra. The comment from the Apple co-founder reportedly earned "thunderous applause" from the company employees present at the meeting.
The Times noted that Jobs seems to be "unusually emotional" in the battle with Google. It said the company's lawsuit against HTC portrayed Apple as "an aggrieved victim finally standing up to the playground bully."
The report alleged that Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page considered Jobs a mentor, and were regular visitors to the company's Cupertino, Calif., campus. And while the relationship between Jobs and Google CEO Eric Schmidt was said to be pleasant, the two were reportedly "never close friends."
Relations between the two companies allegedly turned sour when the Android mobile operating system was first introduced. A series of heated meetings between Apple and Google executives took place soon after.
"Many of those meetings turned confrontational, according to people familiar with the discussions, with Mr. Jobs often accusing Google of stealing iPhone features," the report said. "Google executives said that Android?s features were based on longstanding ideas already circulating in the industry and that some Android prototypes predated the iPhone."
"At one particularly heated meeting in 2008 on Google?s campus, Mr. Jobs angrily told Google executives that if they deployed a version of multitouch ? the popular iPhone feature that allows users to control their devices with flicks of their fingers ? he would sue. Two people briefed on the meeting described it as 'fierce' and 'heated.'"
It was the introduction of Android, the Chrome browser, and Google's plans to release its own netbook operating system that forced Schmidt off of Apple's board of directors last August. It was soon after that the two began competing for acquisitions.
While it was previously known that Apple talked with AdMob about a potential acquisition, the Times revealed more details on the talks:
"While Apple conducted due diligence on the deal, AdMob agreed to a 45-day 'no shop' provision, a routine clause that prevented the start-up from offering itself for sale to others, according to three people briefed on the negotiations. But after Apple inexplicably let 45 days pass without consummating its offer, Google pounced."
Google purchased AdMob for $750 million three days after the "no shop" provision with Apple expired. One executive told the Times that Google was willing to pay the premium just to keep the company away from Apple. Soon after the deal was struck, Apple responded by acquiring competing mobile ad firm Quattro Wireless.
The report even mentions the persistent rumors that Apple could partner with Microsoft to make Bing the default search engine and maps provider for the iPhone. As usual, Apple declined to comment on anything for the story.
"And it would present an unlikely sight: Steve Jobs and Apple, running from the arms of Eric Schmidt and Google, into the embrace of Steve Ballmer and Microsoft," the report concluded.
Comments
Post the article.
http://www.cuil.com infused with a $1 Billion from Apple and you'd see Apple quickly switching from Google and not missing a thing.
Then again... what is that data-center in NC gonna be used for? I certainly don't see the studios flooding Apple with their entire move catalogs in HD... and lets face it ebooks just don't take up scads of drive space, certainly not enough to demand such an enormous datacenter.
I guess in the end only time will tell... but its mildly disappointing since I would have liked Apple and Google to continue on with collaborative relationship... Now it seems Apple might actually invite Microsoft to play in their reindeer games and I'm sorry but the only company that makes out in a Microsoft collaboration IS Microsoft. Tell me I'm wrong...
I wonder if this AI post has the legs to make a record-breaking Comments count.
Enjoy the show...
Really, Google wants to control information, and how to deliver it - portal, OS, browser, phones, broadband.
And it's not like Apple is some angelic enterprise either.
Truth be told, Bing is still very much a mixed bag (typical of Microsoft); even those people I know who readily embraced it upon launch (all devout PC worshippers -- I mean, Windows users) soon found themselves second-guessing and turning back to Google for "better results." (I personally can't stand Bing. I _much_ prefer Google. Anyone who knows how to really search _well_ on Google can get excellent results pretty quickly.)
I'm sure that Apple is eagerly exploring viable alternatives (or the lack thereof), but the champ is still Google, no matter how "evil" they may be. Essentially, they wanted to jump into the hardware market and have done a rather clumsy but interesting job so far. Unfortunately for Jobs, they picked the same direction as Apple -- hmm, kinda sounds like an old Micro$oft trick!
And thus, we are poised for a real "Clash of the Titans." Talk about timing!
(Ballmer? Are you joking? The Baldin' Dancin' Monkey Boy is no match for his High Holy Steveness. Plus, Micro$oft still poses way too much competition for Apple.)
Microsoft and Google will stop making their products for the Apple platform if Jobs continues this rampage.
No they won't.
Jobs can't be that dense. It's business, boo hoo.
Really, Google wants to control information, and how to deliver it - portal, OS, browser, phones, broadband.
And it's not like Apple is some angelic enterprise either.
He is. Lord Jobs' genius is equally matched by his baggage. Great with ideas, not so great dealing with others.
And it's not like Apple is some angelic enterprise either.
Apple isn't the one making claims of corporate goodness.
Apple shouldn't even entertain the idea of rolling their own search engine I just don't see that being a successful venture.
Yup, that would be a stupid idea, at least in terms of head-to-head mimicry. Maybe you're onto something:
Then again... what is that data-center in NC gonna be used for?
Without a doubt, this is the billion-dollar question. Only Apple knows. And you know they never, ever rest on their laurels.
...but the only company that makes out in a Microsoft collaboration IS Microsoft. Tell me I'm wrong...
Nope, you're absolutely right. Except for when Micro$oft shoots itself in the feet. But that only happens after the other party's been shot.
My bet is on Cuil.
http://www.cuil.com infused with a $1 Billion from Apple and you'd see Apple quickly switching from Google and not missing a thing.
How about http://www.mahalo.com/ ?
It's more interesting the cuil.
I wonder what Jason Calacanis would say to an offer from Steve Jobs?
My bet is on Cuil.
http://www.cuil.com infused with a $1 Billion from Apple and you'd see Apple quickly switching from Google and not missing a thing.
That looks interesting, but I can't tell (after a quick look at their website) how they make their money. If they are not gathering statistics on user searches, will advertisers be willing to pay Cuil?
I don't see Google doing anything wrong here.
Unless there was an agreement that the two would not compete but remain complementary partners, and thus, Apple showed Google (Brin, Schmidt, etc) their OS and multi-touch technologies, which Google copied while pretending to be partners.
"Google executives said that Android?s features were based on longstanding ideas already circulating in the industry and that some Android prototypes predated the iPhone."
That said, I was rather surprised to see that the new Safari didn't have an alternative search. I hope Apple comes out guns-blazing.