Apple and Yahoo are reportedly in talks over extending the level of co-operation amongst the two companies on the iPhone and iPad, as Apple looks to reduce its dependence on rival Google’s web services.
The Wall Street Journal cites a source close to the deal saying that while a deal is not imminent, both companies are keen to extend the scope of their relationship.
Apple has used Yahoo Finance and Weather data to power the stocks and weather data on iPhone since launch. The integration went a step further when Apple started using Yahoo data to answer sports-related queries in Siri, its virtual assistant.
The report notes that Yahoo wants to be able to offer more of its content to Apple, including possibly search results, as an incentive for Cupertino to reduce its dependence on Google.
The WSJ report states: “Yahoo also has contemplated ways it could provide Web-search results to Apple, so that Apple could rely less on Google Inc. But the idea is still a long shot because of Yahoo’s partnership with Microsoft Corp., which powers Yahoo’s search service, and Apple’s deal to use Google’s Web-search service as the default in the iPhone and iPad web browser.”
However, any deal on search seems unlikely at this point.
The discussions represent a push by Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer to increase the company’s presence on mobile devices.
A deeper partnership with Apple, which analysts estimate will sell more than 200 million iPhones and iPads this year, could potentially reverse Web traffic declines that Yahoo has seen on some of its sites and help transform the company into a bigger mobile-software player.
Apple, meanwhile, has been looking to partner with companies to help reduce its reliance on Google’s mobile services.
Read the WSJ report here
