Google CEO Eric Schmidt Resigns From Apple Board of Directors

Google CEO, Eric Schmidt or Schmitty around these parts, has resigned his position from Apple's Board of Directors. In Apple's words:

“Eric has been an excellent Board member for Apple, investing his valuable time, talent, passion and wisdom to help make Apple successful,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple’s Board.”

Though Schmitty had been on Apple's Board since 2006, this move should really come as no surprise. Google has been expanding their business, first with the release of Android and now with the announcement of Chrome OS, those two products obviously compete with two of Apple's pillars: iPhone and OS X.

Combine those facts with Apple's controversial rejection of both Google Voice and Google Latitude applications on the iPhone, it looks like the once rosy relationship that Google and Apple shared is beginning to sour.

What we're wondering here at Android Central is what part played the most significance in this decision. Was it Android? Was it Chrome OS? Was it the rejection of the two Google applications? Or the combined cocktail of it all?

What do you guys think?

[via the iPhone blog]