Six Reason Why Eric Schmidt Left Apple Board

It may not come to a surprise by many of the news that Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt handed in his resignation to the Apple board of directors Monday. This was coming sooner than later and it boils down to one thing and one thing alone; conflicts of interest.

Apple said in a statement that the company and Schmidt came to a mutual agreement to end the partnership there, but I think we all know that Eric was probably forced out of this position, at least that's my opinion. I'm sure if Apple had not of pressed the issue, Schmidt would have not of resigned from the board.

Below are six reasons why this 'conflict of interest' came out and resulted in Eric Schmidt's resignation.

1. Browser Wars: Last year, Google announced its Chrome web browser in their attempt to take market share from Firefox, Internet Explorer, and yes of course Apple's very own Safari browser. This is only just one of the many technologies that Google has announced since Eric Schmidt joined the Apple board in 2004.
2. Operating System Wars: While Google has not yet released a desktop operating system, one is definitely underway - one that runs Linux and has a Chrome like interface which allows for super fast bootup times and fast access to the cloud where you can reach all of your documents, emails, and photos. Apple's OS/computer market is one of their most competitive markets that they deal with because the PC market is so large. Google joining in the market only adds to the competition and this is yet another technology, which hasn't even hit the market yet, that directly competes with Apple.
3. iPhone vs Google Android: The Google Phone or Android OS came out not too long ago, and has been found on many new handheld devices and even more on the way. While we haven't seen the volume that the Apple iPhone has seen, we definitely can't count the Android out and definitely can't say its not a competitor to the iPhone market.
4. App Store Wars: In today's world it seems like with every phone, there is an app store and with Google its no different. Apple, which has the largest and most successful mobile phone app store to-date clearly is the leader in the industry but Google is on the sidelines creating their own Android Market place to make direct competition for Apple's App Store.
5. Google Voice No Good For Apple's App Store: Google Voice, a software and service that allows you to have one phone number to give out to everyone and then it can reach you, wherever you may be (Home, work, on the go) was given a big FAT "REJECTION" from Apple when it attempted to get the Google Voice app for the iPhone approved a couple weeks ago. While this may not have been an Apple rejection as much as it was an AT&T rejection, due to competition with its service, its clearly another point that shows Google treading on Apple's turf, as well as AT&T's.
6. eBooks Store Wars: While, I know Google doesn't have a ebookstore like say, Amazon does or Barnes and Noble will have, but they do have an Ebooks collection and I'm willing to bet that they announce some sort of ebooks store in the next year or two with hopes to compete with B&N, Amazon, and Apple. What? Did I just say Apple? Yup, Apple has plans to open an ebooks store very soon as they release their Apple Tablet device in September.