I've said it before:
"Steve Jobs does not like Google these days. What if he were to decide to ban Google apps from the iPhone or other products? It would hurt Apple users, but I can imagine Steve Jobs giving it a shot."
Well, Steve Jobs has modified his iPhone advertising in a way that seems to me to be designed specifically to weaken Google ads on the iPhone.
Steve is limiting the ability of iPhone advertising systems to collect analytics about users when, for example, "an advertising service provider [is] owned by or affiliated with a developer or distributor of ... mobile operating systems." They have to get Apple's permission first.
Gee, now what mobile advertising system is owned by a developer of mobile operating systems? Besides Google, AOL and Microsoft appear to be excluded from collecting user information, according to the Wall Street Journal.
ComputerWorld points out that "Of all the ad requests [AdMob] served in April, nearly 32% went to iPhones and iPod Touches." That's nearly four times the number of ads it serves on Android phones. So far.
No analytics = less effective, less relevant ads.This hurts Apple users. Less effective competition in advertising. Steve Jobs exercises his imperial control over his devices.
It's revenge on Google for competing with Apple. Jobs (inadvertently, I'm sure) single-handedly got the FTC to approve Google's AdMob purchase when he acquired Quattro. The FTC, thinking (without evidence) that Apple would provide significant mobile advertising competition, used it as an excuse to approve the Quattro acquisition.
Well, if Apple wasn't going to be a significant advertising competitor with Google, I guess it will be now. The Wall Street sers.