Google Inc CEO Eric Schmidt resigned from Apple Inc’s board, amid intensifying rivalry between the two companies and concern that sharing directors may hurt competition.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement, "Schmidt’s effectiveness as a director will be “significantly diminished” as he needs to rescue himself from more meetings because of potential conflicts of interest."
Google has expanded into computer and mobile-phone software, creating direct competitors to Apple’s products. Google is developing a computer operating system based on its Chrome Web browser, competing with software from companies including Apple. Google’s Android mobile-phone operating system also competes with Apple’s iPhone software.