The announcement came amidst the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) inquiring into why Apple denied the Google App.

Even though it was expected, the announcement came much faster! Google has begun competing with Apple with the launch of Google's Android mobile platform that compete with the iPhone and plans for the launch of Chrome operating system. It seems that the decision was in the mind of both the companies, but the whole Google Voice Application and FFC issue made the process a bit faster.

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 Apples 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.

Schmidt had served on Apple's Board of Directors since August 2006.

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