Did Apple ask Google not to implement multi-touch in Android?

According to Macrumors and VentureBeat, the answer is “Yes”.  An unidentified Android employee claims that Apple specifically asked Google not to implement “multi-touch” in Android.  The reason that multi-touch was actually left out is that Google wants to keep their relationship with Apple on good grounds, unlike the ongoing war of words between Palm and Apple over the Pre’s use of multi-touch.  This is ridiculousif it turns out to be true.  I understand patenting a whole new way of input methods on a screen/mobile device, however, within another 2 years I see multi-touch being as common place as bluetooth on touchscreen phones.  On the other hand, if I were in Apple’s shoes, I’d want to hold out my lead as being the only multi-touch smartphone provider on the market.  Both sides of their arguements.  And I can also understand the fear of being sued by a multi-billion dollar company.  That won’t change the outcome of multi-touch on Android.  If Google doesn’t officially support it, the underground developer community will implement it.  In fact, multi-touch has already been implemented and tested by the developer community as feasible with a working model!  While not easily enabled by a novice (a ton of coding and hacking is required…trust me, experts only) multi-touch is available for Android now.  So, what would you do if you were Apple?  Google?  Would you have caved, or would you have risked it all in order to make your product a lot better?  Let us know.

Source: VentureBeat, Macrumors, GPS Obsessed