Google Apple collaboration at Macworld Expo?

One of most interesting collaborations that could be announced at Macworld Expo is a partnership between Apple and Google.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt was elected to Apple's board of directors on 29 August 2006 and the two haven't really done much together save a sighting of Google Maps integration in iPhoto. As I've said here before, Apple needs to do more with Google.

Steve Jobs' pre-announcement of the iTV has everyone wondering what Apple's new set top box will do. Sure there's the DVR potential with TiVO/Elgato, movie downloads from the iTunes store and possibly even Netflix but what about the world's largest search engine?

Google Video and YouTube would be a perfect fit for the iTV.

InternetNews.com adds some fuel to the fire:

Arnold, who heads Arnold-IT based in Kentucky, said he doesn't have any inside knowledge of an Apple/Google alliance, he's just connecting the dots.

He notes Google now owns YouTube and has the expertise and technology resources to move huge amounts of video files, a good match for Apple's ambitions with iTunes for both music and video delivery.

"Google is architected as a server company best suited for global delivery of bits anywhere in the world," said Arnold. "It could be one helluva combination; a new type of global, multimedia content network, worth hundreds of billions of dollars," Arnold told internetnews.com. He also notes Job's role as an executive and major stockholder at Disney could play a role in any Apple/Google alliance.