As per a report in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the two tech giants Apple and Google - who have largely refrained from treading into each other’s business territory - have of late been apparently vying for the same Silicon Valley startups, as well as having initiated the development of competing products.

Though the two companies have thus far focused on different parts of the tech market – Google in Internet search and Apple in computers and consumer electronics devices; Apple is now looking to foray into the advertising arena, while Google is seeking to explore music services.

Citing sources-in-the-know, the WSJ report has elaborated that Google was seriously discussing the takeover of online-music firm Lala before Apple closed the deal for $85 million. On the other hand, Apple was hotly pursing a deal for AdMob mobile-advertising company, prior to Google’s $750 million acquisition of start-up in November.

Furthermore, Google, which has already launched a Web browser that takes on Apple’s Safari, is currently involved in the development of an operating system that would run on computers competing with Apple’s Mac systems.

In the mobile arena too, some of iPhone’s closest rivals, like the Motorola Droid, use the Google Android software. In addition, Google is also reportedly involved in talks with handset makers urging them to build phones with more prominent Google branding and more built-in Google applications.