Mr. Schmidt resigned from his position on Apple’s Board of Directors at the beginning of August over concerns that there was too much cross over in products between the two companies. Both Apple and Google could be seen as competitors in the operating system and smartphone markets.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs commented at the time “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.”
Mr. Schmidt’s resignation came only days after the FCC began looking into Apple’s decision to block Google Voice applications from the iPhone and iPod touch App Store. The agency is looking into why Google’s own application was rejected, along with why third-party Google Voice apps were pulled from the online store.
Mr. Schmidt and Apple previously fell under the watchful eye of the FCC when Google first announced its Android platform for smart phones, and again when the company announced its Chrome OS for netbooks. At the time, the FCC was looking into whether or not Mr. Schmidt’s and Arthur Levison’s involvement on the board of directors for both Apple and Google posed a conflict of interest or a threat to competition.
Apple’s bylaws require the board to be comprised of at least five members, but no more than nine members. Even without Mr. Schmidt, the board still includes six members, but the company has historically operated with seven or eight members.
Apple has not confirmed that the board meeting will actually take place.