Google head honcho Eric Schmidt has joined the board of Apple in a move that will deliver for Apple the experience of a seasoned IT industry executive. The move comes as Google moves to delivering enterprise software and Apple a range of enterprise computers that will run both Windows and Apple software.

Schmidt, 51, joined Google from Novell in 2001. The announcement signals closer professional ties between Apple CEO Steve Jobs, whose iPod is the most popular digital music player, and Schmidt, who oversaw Google’s rise to become the most-used Internet search engine.

Before Novell, Schmidt was chief technology officer at Sun Microsystems .”There’s a real scarcity of really top-flight people with operational experience who can be directors,” said Paul Saffo, an independent technology analyst in Silicon Valley.

“Eric has been around Silicon Valley forever.” Schmidt will join Jobs, former Vice President Al Gore, Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson and J. Crew Group CEO Mickey Drexler on Apple’s board.

While Apple started as a computer company and Google started as a search engine, the companies are beginning to compete in markets such as online video. Google also has a feature that enables users to search for songs and links them to online music stores, including Apple’s iTunes site.

 “It doesn’t hurt the Google-Apple relationship that Schmidt is on Apple’s board,” Saffo said. “It also creates interesting opportunities in the form of expanding the conversation between Google and Apple.” Apple’s other directors are Elevation Partners Managing Director Fred Anderson, General Motors board member Jerome York and Intuit Inc. Chairman Bill Campbell.