Apple’s desire to dump Google services sends it fleeing to Yahoo

Just because Apple’s (AAPL) plan to ditch Google Maps has been a bust so far doesn’t mean that the company has given up on decreasing its devices’ dependence on Google’s (GOOG) mobile services. The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple and Yahoo (YHOO) “have been discussing how more of Yahoo’s services can play a prominent role on Apple’s iPhone and iPad devices,” including increased integration into Siri, Apple’s virtual personal assistant. The Journal’s sources also say that the companies are discussing “possible deals to get more content from Yahoo News and its other Web properties loaded onto Apple devices,” although no deal is imminent at this time. The Journal notes that some Apple executives, including senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue, have been reluctant to drop Google entirely because its search results remain superior to those of its competitors.