Apple (News - Alert) and Google are not friends. Okay, that’s an understatement, but the competition between the two powerhouse companies just got amped up another notch.

Apple will reportedly not include the YouTube app as a default any longer on its iOS devices, forcing Google (News - Alert) to come up with an alternate version of the application instead, as YouTube is run by Google.

The glaring lack of a YouTube application on iOS 6 was first noticed and reported earlier today in a review for the latest version of iOS released for developers.

While this shouldn’t come as a surprise to those aware of the war waging between Apple and Google, it may come as a surprise to some customers, as Apple never officially announced its plans to cut the app from its devices.

The YouTube (News - Alert) application has been a part of Apple’s iOS since the first version came out in 2007, but users who buy iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches will now have to do without.

Google is apparently in the process of building its own replacement app for the service currently, which will be available to buy from the App Store, but nothing is yet known about the project.

The YouTube app is still present on Apple TV.  

This move comes just after Apple announced its plan to drop Google Maps from its devices as well. Apple cut that specific tie with Google in order to promote its own 3D Maps program, but at the time many thought the announcement was a sign of further efforts by Apple to lessen its dependence on Google’s services.

It would appear those theories were correct now, although there has been no official word from Google or Apple on the exact reasoning behind the change, aside from a confirmation statement by Apple.

Theories have ranged from Apple tiring of paying the Google license, to the company simply wanting the iOS experience to be free of the automatic association with Google.

The confirmation statement was released today to the Verge: “Our license to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended, customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the App Store.”

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