Apple, Yahoo said to be cozying up for more iOS services
The iPhone and iPad maker is said to be discussing a deeper partnership with Yahoo to get more of its services on iOS devices.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. And in the case of Apple and Yahoo, Google is most definitely that company for the two.
So it makes sense that Apple and Yahoo might deepen their partnership, which is just what's happening, says The Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
In a somewhat vague report, the Journal says the two companies have been in talks to bring more of Yahoo's content and services to Apple's devices. That's on top of what's already there, a list that includes weather, sports scores, stock information, and Web search in Safari.
A new deal, which the Journal notes has not been made yet, could include additional Web content from other Yahoo properties like the company's sports and news sites.
Yahoo was one of Apple's initial partners with the iPhone and iOS. Google had a bigger foothold in key areas like Maps and as the default search engine in Safari, but Apple did away with the company's mapping service as part of iOS 6 last year.
Yahoo does not have a rival operating system for mobile devices, unlike Google, which has soured the relationship between Apple and Google. That said, Google has been one of the most active major third-party developers on Apple's iOS platform, bringing many of its services over in app form.
Complicating things, of course, are Yahoo's connections with Microsoft, the tech giant that nearly bought the company in 2008. The two inked a 10-year search deal in 2010 to power Yahoo's Web search with Microsoft's Bing. And unlike Yahoo, Microsoft does compete with Apple on a handful of other fronts, including mobile devices.
One thing to note: If any Yahoo additions were to make it into Apple's mobile software, they would likely end up in the next major version of iOS. That update is expected to be shown off at Apple's annual developer conference, which typically takes place in early June.