Google executive leaving Apple board

CUPERTINO, Calif., Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt will resign from Apple Corp.'s board as the two companies move closer to direct competition, Apple said Monday.

Schmidt will step down because of "potential conflicts of interest," Apple said. As he leaves, one Apple board member, Arthur Levinson, chairman of Genentech, will continue to serve on both Apple's and Google's boards, The New York Times reported Monday.

Schmidt's role on Apple's board would have been "significantly diminished" since he would have had to recuse himself from an increasing number of board discussions, Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs said in a statement.

Google's Android operating system, designed for mobile phones, already competes directly with Apple's investment in the cell phone industry. Google also said it was developing an operating system, called Chrome OS, for personal computers that would compete with Apple's computer division.