BusinessWeek reports that Apple and Microsoft are in negotiations to replace Google with Microsoft's Bing.com as the default search engine on the iPhone

"Apple and Google know the other is their primary enemy," says one of the people, who's familiar with Apple's thinking. "Microsoft is now a pawn in that battle."

(Insert sound of needle scratching across a vinyl record here).

Whoa, whoa, whoa... wait a gosh darn minute! I've been a Mac user and fan of all things Apple for most of my adult life. The Mac faithful have always known one thing... Microsoft is "the evil empire".

Apple has spent millions pitting itself against "PC" with clever ad campaigns for decades, but now we're told "the evil empire" isn't really evil and may actually be good at something. I realize the landscape is forever changing and that by using Google as the default iPhone search option they are lining Google's pockets, but really Apple? Really!?!

Google's leap into the mobile device market and the release of Google's Chrome Browser for the Mac clearly appear to be a shots across Apple's bow, but an act of war?

Is aligning yourself with your enemy really the answer?

Would this move trickle down to Safari on the Mac?

Does this news mean Apple and Microsoft's epic David and Goliath-esque battle for user market share will end?

Google's informal corporate motto is "Don't be evil". Are they now seen as evil in the eyes of Apple?

What's more important to Apple moving forward, mobile devices or the Mac?

I'd love to know your thoughts.