Apple Still A "Valuable Partner" For Google

In the middle of rumours suggesting growing dissension between Apple and Google over the latter’s reported decision to go for Microsoft’s Bing for the iPhone, a high-profile Google executive has called Apple a “valuable partner” and insisted that the things are absolutely fine between the two companies.

News Agency Reuters is reporting that the chief of mobile engineering for Google, Vic Gundotra, has asserted that his company hopes to have a long-running lucrative partnership with Apple.

Citing the same, he said in a statement: “Apple is a very close and valuable partner, and we're very excited about the relationship we have with them today. We have no reason to believe that's going to change”.

When asked about the reports of Apple striking partnership with Microsoft to bring its search engine Bing to the iPhone, Gundotra responded by saying, “We don't want to comment on those rumours. We think that relationship is stable.”

However, the two companies have of late interfered into each other’s domain. While the search giant has entered into Apple’s market with its Nexus One smartphone, Apple’s acquisition of Quattro Wireless has indicated the Cupertino’s venture into the advertising business.

Furthermore, he was more or less tight-lipped about the company’s plans for Google Nexus Two handset. As in a canned response, he noted no decisions had been taken yet about the number of Google phones to come, or which company would manufacture them.