11 February 2009 | Author: Yasmin Sulaiman

Google and Apple: could mobile developments breed discord?

Decreasing mobile phone sales in the economic downturn may mean that major mobile phone manufacturers - like Nokia and Samsung - are facing a bleak year, but the pervading buoyancy of the smartphone industry is having the opposite effect on the likes of Apple and Google. A study released by Juniper Research last week found that sales of smartphones are likely to rise by 95 per cent by 2013, so it seems the future looks bright for Apple's iPhone, as well as Google's G1 and the slew of Android-operated smartphones that are likely to come out this year.

So surely that would make Apple and Google competitors - right? Well, maybe. For starters, Google CEO Eric Schmidt sits on Apple's board, so he does have an interest in ensuring that the Silicon Valley veterans do well. What's more, a recent report on industry news site VentureBeat claims that Apple asked Google not to implement multi-touch support on Android. M.G. Siegler, who wrote the report, said:

"Apple, which of course makes the signature multi-touch mobile device, the iPhone, apparently asked Google not to implement it, and Google agreed, an Android team member tells us.

"Further, the Android team member went on to say that they were relieved that Google didn't go against Apple's wishes, given the legal storm that appears to be brewing between Apple and Palm, which is using multi-touch technology in its new Pre phone... Google, it seems, wants no part in ruining its relationship with Apple."

However, the release of Google Sync for Mobile shows that the Mountain View kings don't always let Apple have the upper mobile hand. The software, released for the iPhone and Windows Mobile devices, is based on Microsoft's ActiveSync technology and lets you sync your Gmail Contacts and Google Calendar directly to your smartphone. It's in direct competition with Apple's MobileMe subscribers - but while Google Sync - like almost all Google products - is free to use, MobileMe costs $100 a year.

This balance between friendly competition and behind-the-scenes understandings in the mobile arena seems to have been serving Google and Apple fairly well to date. But as the smartphone markets becomes ever more crowded, it's possible this dynamic will change over the coming year. As the mobile industry gears up for Mobile World Congress next week, prevailing rumours indicate that we could be seeing some major shifts of power.

For instance, Stuff.tv reports that the iPhone is likely to be facing competition from Samsung's touchscreen Tocco handset, while the expected release of Nokia's Symbian App Store and Microsoft's Skymarket for Windows Mobile devices look sure to cut into Apple's share of the market. With so many developments hot on their heels, Google and Apple could be forced to part ways sooner than they might think.

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