IPhone Bings Google = Apple brand damage

The Internet is abuzz with the possibility that Apple might be changing the default search provider on all newly purchased IPhones. The rumor is it will change from Google to Microsoft's Bing search engine. I have never been much of a fan of the IPhone and this is yet another reason to not like it. Microsoft and Apple were former enemies and now they are making strange bedfellows. From Apple's perspective, I do get it... after all Google is making it's own new phone called the Nexus One and the Android operating system for phones. However, the IPhone is marketed to high and medium income users who are technologically savvy. These are the same people who do not like Microsoft and because of that don't want to use Bing. Now they will find their phones search engine will be set to their nemesis. This is exactly how you damage a brand as any geek from the 90's will remember the old PC v Mac debate. As strange as the idea may seem, people were so passionate on both sides that to suggest one or the other brand is better would be akin to committing treason. In today's case of the IPhone, switching search engines is a good way to cause mutiny in some of the user base. The very reason they purchased an IPhone is to stay away from companies such as Microsoft. This may encourage some to switch to the Palm OS device or RIM's Blackberry, the Android phone from HTC by Google or the Nexus hand set from Google. Apple, you're supposed to grow your market not shrink it! This is not how you do it. It's better to keep Google a friend in the long run as they usually go for the jugular.