The relationship between Google and Apple has thawed over the past year, with the companies conducting “lots and lots” of meetings, Reuters reported, citing comments from Eric Schmidt.

The Google executive chairman said that Nikesh Arora, the search giant’s chief business officer, was leading talks over “a long list of issues”.

While Google and Apple have had a close relationship in the past – with Schmidt having sat on the iPhone maker’s board of directors – this cooled when the two found themselves increasingly competing in the mobile space.

Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android are the leading platforms for mobile devices and apps.

Google is the default search for devices powered by iOS, a deal which is reported to have a value of more than $1 billion. Google then generates revenue by serving ads to iOS users.

But in the last year, the companies’ relationship has weakened in some areas.

Apple dropped the integrated YouTube app from the latest version of its iOS platform, following the end of an earlier deal between the two. Google subsequently launched its own iOS app via Apple’s App Store.

And Apple also replaced Google Maps as the default mapping app on iOS devices with its own product, leading to criticism from users that it offered a below-par experience.