Apple open to porting its apps to other platforms: Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook has surprised everyone by expressing hisview on the possibility of Apple porting its apps to Android.

Speaking at the AllThingsD D11 conference respondingto an audience member's query on the possibility of Apple bringing support foriCloud to other platforms, Cook said that the company would go ahead if it madesense. He said, "We have no religious issue with doing that. If we thought itmade sense to do that we would do it. You could apply that to every area ofApple."

While he did not explicitly admit that the company wouldbring its cloud service or other apps to other platforms, it does reflect thatApple is open to making the move if it suits its strategy.

Apple's made its applications available on other platformsin the past. It offered the Safari web browser and iTunes music app on Windowsbut both did not work as well as their Mac counterparts. Apple removed the linkfor Safari for Windows from its website and ended support for it. Apple alsooffers an iCloud utility for Windows.

If Apple does extend some of its services and apps to othermobile platforms, it won't be the first one to do so. Google offers a plethoraof apps including YouTube, Maps, Search with Google Now, Gmail, Hangouts andmany others on iOS. Microsoft also offers games and apps including the Outlookmail app and One Note among others on Android and iOS.

We're not sure if any of the Apple apps other than oneoffering access to iCloud and iTunes music store and cloud library would offerany additional functionality on other platforms. However, with BlackBerryextending its BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) service to iOS and Android, it couldbe a good move if Apple also extends iMessage to other platforms.