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Abode may have a new ally in its battle with Apple over Adobe Flash: Google Chrome.According to a report from ZDNet, Google () intends to bundle the embattled Flash platform into future builds of the Chrome () browser — no plugin installs necessary. Chrome is the world’s third most popular browser — surpassing Safari earlier this year — but still trailing Internet Explorer and Firefox in market share.
The move itself won’t make a huge impact for either Flash or Chrome, considering Adobe’s own stats say that around 99% of Internet-enabled desktops already have the plugin installed. However, including Adobe Flash in Chrome also means that it would be part of Google Chrome OS, which could be a strong motivation behind this move.
The symbolism of the move cannot be understated. Google and Apple are no longer friends, and Apple dislikes Flash so much that it is not including it on the iPad or the iPhone. By partnering with Adobe, Google is placing yet another wall between itself and Apple, and making its competitive intentions clear.
What will happen to Flash if Google decides to back Adobe? Nobody knows yet, but it’s definitely something we have to watch unfold in the next few months.