YouTube will no longer be available as a standard feature in iPhones or iPad.
As the war for consumers between the tech giants intensifies, the Cupertino-based Apple has removed Google's YouTube from the pre-loaded app on its handheld devices.
This came to light when Apple released the test version of iOS 6, nest mobile operating system for iPhone and iPad. YouTube has been a popular default app in its previous releases.
"Our license to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended," Trudy Muller, Apple spokeswoman told reporters. "Customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser, and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the App Store."
"We are working with Apple to ensure we have the best possible YouTube experience for iOS users," Google said in a statement. YouTube was asked to comment on the specific issue of its app disappearing from iOS 6, they declined to comment.
The app for YouTube that you find on iPhone and iPad were created by Apple's developers by using the open developer tools of YouTube, so the experience of using YouTube in Apple devices is different to those on Android based handsets or YouTube.com on Web browsers.
The version of Apple app is devoid of any advertisements as Apple forbids it. Some creators of these videos do not show their video on Apple devices since they don't want to leave out the potential revenue from advertising, but web browsers and Android apps include ads for YouTube.
Apple users will still be able to find YouTube content other ways.
Chetan Sharma, and independent mobile analyst estimates that YouTube app that comes is pre-packaged in the Apple device is used 15 percent to 20 percent more than Apple's other apps.
Though initially when iPhone was released, Apple used YouTube and Google Maps as features but the company has been working on its own video-streaming app and soon Google Maps will be removed to make way for an in-house mapping solution. Apple's search-by-voice feature, Siri challenges Google Search.
Users will hunt for YouTube even if Apple does not include it in its line up, as it is widely popular.
"I don't think Google needs Apple's help to promote YouTube," Sharma said.
The final version of iOS 6 will be hitting the markets this fall, said Applte.
