The rift between Apple and Google may finally be on the mend.
Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman of Google, suggested that the two companies are on better terms these days, according to multiple reports from Allen & Co's conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, where executives from many of the major technology companies are gathered this week.
Schmidt told reporters that Apple and Google are in "constant business discussions on a long list of issues," according to Reuters.
Bloomberg reports that Schmidt also said he has "a lot of respect for Apple," despite the companies' rivalry. "These are two proud, well-run, different companies," he said.
Apple and Google have had a strained relationship in recent years, to say the least. After Google released Android, the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs famously declared "thermonuclear war" against the company for allegedly ripping off the iPhone. Since then, Apple has engaged in legal battles with Android manufacturers like Samsung and HTC, and has tried to reduce its reliance on Google products like Maps by releasing its own version. That said, Apple's CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly stated that he hates all the litigation.
As it so happens, while Schmidt was speaking with the press at the conference, Cook walked by across the street -- something that could only happen at the Sun Valley event. According to Bloomberg, another Google exec called out to Cook that everyone wanted to take his picture. Cook smiled in response.
Tim Cook smiles while we chat with Googlers. He is happy to avoid the hot seat! #sunvalley13 pic.twitter.com/IaYpEjH68S— Jessica Lessin (@Jessicalessin) July 11, 2013
Afterwards, Schdmit responded: "We got Tim to smile. Always a good thing."