Google CEO Eric Schmidth has resigned from Apple's board of directors it was revealed on Monday. According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, because Google is entering more of Apple's core businesses, Schmidt would have had to excuse himself from large portions of the board's meetings had he stayed on.

Jobs indicated that the decision for Schmidt to resign was mutual. The decision comes just a few months after Schmidt said that a government inquiry into his role on Apple's board wouldn't turn up any evidence that ties between the two companies throttle competition in the mobile phone arena or elsewhere.

Back in May, Schmidt said that he hadn't considered resigning from Apple's board because he did not view them as a "primary competitor". As Google steps more and more into the mobile phone area, and next into the netbook/computer area, the two companies are becoming more of rivals than complimentary companies.

Schmidt had been on the Apple board since August 2006.