Apple and Yahoo are in active discussions regarding increasing their partnership, according to The Wall Street Journal. While the report does not provide any true specifics regarding what an increased partnership could entail, the report notes that discussions have surrounded increased Yahoo integration into Siri. Additionally, Yahoo is reportedly exploring ways to reduce Apple’s reliance on Google for web search functions.
Apple and Yahoo have had a lengthy history in terms of iPhone/iOS-related partnerships. Yahoo was the first third-party email service to be integrated into the iPhone Mail app with free push email technology. In fact, one of Yahoo’s founders joined Apple co-founder Steve on stage at the Macworld 2007 iPhone announcement to discuss the partnership (video). Yahoo is also a Safari web search option and a data source for weather, stocks, sports data for iOS applications and Siri…
Because Apple already relies on data from Yahoo in many aspects of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating system, the next possible path could be related to Yahoo seeing a prominent view for web searches completed on the iOS devices. Yahoo may also increasingly see themselves on Apple’s Mac computers as Siri is expected to make its way to OS X.
Apple Senior Vice President of Design Jonathan Ive was seen at dinner with Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and various other Silicon Valley executives. In 2011, Marissa Mayer was interviewed about Apple and various other topics. Mayer also has offered every Yahoo employee an iPhone as their company-issued smartphone.
