The relationship between Apple and Google has always been pretty cozy -- Mac OS X and the iPhone tie into a
variety of Google services, Google's developed
rule-breaking iPhone apps, we've heard endless whispers of Apple
meddling in the development of the G1, and on and on. In fact, the relationship between the two companies is so tight they actually share board members: Google CEO Eric Schmidt and former Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson take meetings in both Cupertino and Mountain View. That's apparently raised some hackles at the Federal Trade Commission, which has reportedly informed both companies they're being investigated for violating a rarely-enforced section of the Clayton Antitrust Act prohibiting "interlocking directorates" when it reduces competition. That sounds like someone at the FTC just noticed that Apple makes the iPhone and Google's responsible for Android, but nothing's set in stone yet -- and we've got a feeling Android's open-source codebase could throw a monkey wrench into an already-complex legal analysis. We'll obviously be tracking this one closely, keep an eye out.
posted May 4th 2009 11:10PM
FIRST
Sure would be nice if our government would make better use of tax dollars when our national debt is accumulating faster the Usain Bolt running the 100 meter. Next the FTC will get involved and waste money investigating whether Roger Clemen's lied to Congress. I have yet to spend a dollar on Google products. Apple isn't exactly the backbone of the worlds computer systems like Microsoft.
Hmmm, I see it this way. On the one hand you've got Apple and Google sharing technology which benefits both the Android and iPhone platform so the consumer wins with choice and features with a lot of though put in them, 2 technology company's willing to share idea's. On the other it's bad for everyone else as they have to go it alone and then it's not good for the consumer as it can reduce choice if other devices don't have the ideas in them.
Tough one really, but it is illegal and shouldn't be done at the end of the day, Apple doesn't like it's patents being stolen after all. Slapped wrists all round I'm predicting.
rumours are circulating on twitter that google has been shut down, all nonsense i presume?
How about investigating the piss poor broadband choice in the US?
Use of "unlimited" that is not?
The conflict of interest that is our broadband infrastructure where most providers are either telco or content providers who have vested interest in killing new tech?
The damn cell phone companies which virtually require a 2-year contract to get any real phone?
The complete lack of reasonably priced cell data in the US? In Europe you can can good, non-broadband, data for $10 or less a month.
No, we want to look at Google and Apple who have a very tenuous relationship ( they compete in more ways then they agree ).
Who is MS blowing in the FTC to get this half-asses "investigation" going?
There is solution, Apple and Google become one company they wont have to share board member...
Apple + Google = Appoople or Appoogle or maybe Goopple
they will be charged for monopoly.... either way is a lose-lose situation unless they revert to making one or two crappy computers/search engines (?), respectively and earn their share of lack of competition...
cheers
mmmm goopple...
how many iphone/g1 owners affected vs cable/internet subscribers. I'd like the justice dept look at the cable/internet monopoly/cartel.
Who better to take on the decades-old WinTel alliance?