Apple restricting third-party advertisers from collecting personal data if they are owned by another platform vendor could be a way of preventing Google’s AdMob from competing directly on the iPhone with Apple’s iAd, but it could also be a sign that Apple, cranky after leaked iPhone prototypes and iPad analytics, is determined to take back control of user data.

Steve Jobs was nothing if not heated at the D8 conference about the leaked iPhone prototype, and perhaps even more so about in-app analytics taking user data, including device and location, and using that to reveal details about the iPad long before it was announced. Imagining Apple’s subsequent reaction to the thought of now-rival Google having early access to such detailed information not only about unreleased Apple devices, but about which devices iOS users have, at what location, and their app usage patterns probably sent a chill down their collective spines.

App Cubby’s David Barnard put together an excellent post about it earlier today:

When you use Google search and other Google products, they collect a tremendous amount of information and use that information to customize and better serve the ads that are the core of their business. Many users don’t even realize this is happening, others are comfortable with it and have some level of trust for Google’s intent in using that data.

Well, Apple doesn’t trust the benevolence of Google, developers, and other third parties involved in the iOS platform. Apple wants to control the flow of user information.

Barnard also points out Apple primarily makes their money off hardware sales, not the brokering of user information the way Google or Facebook do. He also suggests part of AdMob’s $700 million value to Google was exactly the type of data they could pull off iOS devices:

[David Barnard / App Cubby]

Apple, Google, AdMob, mobile advertising, privacy, and competition is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The US government is reportedly now investigating Apple for the terms in the iOS 4 GM license that restrict rival ad networks owned by competing platforms — i.e. Google’s AdMob. Independent ad networks are not effected, nor is Apple’s own iAd platform.

According to two people close to the situation, US regulators have already taken an interest in Apple’s actions, though it is not yet clear whether it will be left to the Federal Trade Commission, which carried out the recent Google investigation, or the Department of Justice to take an investigation forward.

This follows other reported probes into Apple’s restriction on cross-compilers — i.e. Adobe’s Flash CS5 packager for iPhone, and its position in music — i.e. Apple’s decision to not promote tracks that gave rival Amazon MP3 a 24hr exclusive.

Google’s AdMob acquisition itself faced intense US government scrutiny due to its dominant position in the online advertising market. Both Apple and Google want to buy AdMob, with Google winning out and Apple purchasing Quatro Wireless to power their new iOS iAd platform instead.

If one thing is clear, it looks like PC-underdog Apple is a high profile investigative target in the mobile space.

[Financial Times]

US government investigating Apple’s AdMob exclusion is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Several readers hit us up saying their iPads were already arriving, ahead of Apple’s May 28 international release date (at least phase one of it, phase two is slated for July). Given the spread of 9 countries, its probably harder for Apple to keep their iron grip on delivery dates and still make sure customers get them when they’re supposed to.

If your iPad did indeed arrive early, drop us a note in the comments and let us know where and when.

Google acquired mobile advertiser AdMob, meanwhile, says it’s seeing up to 25% of existing US iPads — the million+ Apple sold in the first month — hitting their network from outside the US.

Does this mean Americans bought less than we thought, and international early adapters have already sated some of their fill, or that — given the ongoing supply constraints — that Apple is just going to sell as many as they can make in all the countries they can get them to?

We’ll start finding out tomorrow as Apple Stores open early so those who didn’t pre-order can try their luck in line, like Chris, Nic, and Hansas in Australia (picture after the break).

First in the que at Robina Apple store…only 11hours and a night of camping in the shopping mall to go! Stoked!

Where are you lining up?

[AdMob]

Some international iPads arriving early, hundreds of thousands of US iPads already there is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Since Apple currently dominates the mobile app space, bolstering their cut of profits with a cut of in-app advertising is likely good business for them. It’s all about the eyeballs, and if those eyeballs are locked on iPhones and iPod touches, why let Google gobble it all up?

If rumors are true that Google bought AdMob out from under Apple (much like Apple bought online music streamer Lala out from under Google), then switching targets to an AdMob competitor couldn’t have been entirely off the radar, now could it? (Especially with — yes more rumors — of Google now turning towards Spotify for their music fix).

Apple and Google certainly look to be getting even more up into each others business, and that should make the expected Nexus One announcement later today, along with Apple’s expected January 27 event, and the whole of 2010, a lot more exciting!