Microsoft has revealed that Google interfered with its efforts to sell its search engine Bing to Apple in 2018, as the war between the tech giants escalates. Microsoft claims that Google used its financial arrangements with Apple, which include paying billions of dollars to remain the default search engine on Safari, to influence Apple’s decision. Google denies the allegations and says that Apple chose Google because of its superior search quality.
Microsoft wanted to sell Bing to Apple in 2018
According to reports, Microsoft approached Apple in 2018 with an offer to sell Bing, its search engine that competes with Google. Microsoft hoped that Apple would replace Google with Bing as the default search engine on Safari, the web browser that runs on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Microsoft argued that Bing would provide better privacy and innovation for Apple’s users, as well as more revenue for Apple.
Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella and president Brad Smith met with Apple’s senior vice president of services Eddy Cue to discuss the proposal. However, Apple rejected Microsoft’s offer, citing concerns over Bing’s search quality, advertising, and monetization capabilities. Apple also said that it conducted extensive tests of Bing and Google and found that Google was the best option for Safari users.
Google allegedly blocked Microsoft’s deal with Apple
Microsoft alleges that Google played a role in Apple’s decision to turn down Bing. Microsoft says that Google’s financial agreements with Apple, which involve paying an estimated $15 billion per year to Apple to keep Google as the default search engine on Safari, influenced Apple’s judgment. Microsoft also says that Google threatened to withdraw its other services, such as YouTube and Google Maps, from Apple’s devices if Apple switched to Bing.
Google denies the accusations and says that Apple chose Google because of its superior search quality and user experience. Google says that Apple conducted independent and rigorous evaluations of Bing and Google and concluded that Google was the best choice for Safari users. Google also says that its payments to Apple are fair and reflect the value that Google provides to Apple and its users.
The dispute comes amid antitrust scrutiny of Google
The dispute between Microsoft and Google comes amid antitrust scrutiny of Google’s dominance in the search and online advertising markets. The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Google in October 2020, accusing it of abusing its market power and engaging in anticompetitive practices. The lawsuit specifically targets Google’s exclusive deals with Apple and other device makers and browser operators to make Google the default search engine on their platforms.
The lawsuit claims that Google’s deals with Apple and others lock out competition and harm consumers by reducing choice, quality, and innovation. The lawsuit also claims that Google’s payments to Apple and others amount to billions of dollars in illegal kickbacks that create a barrier to entry for potential rivals. The lawsuit seeks to stop Google from entering into such deals and to restore competition in the search market.
Google has argued that its deals with Apple and others are legal and beneficial for consumers. Google says that its deals are not exclusive and that users can easily switch to other search engines if they want to. Google also says that its payments to Apple and others are not kickbacks but rather reflect the value that Google provides to them and their users. Google says that it faces strong competition in the search market from Bing, DuckDuckGo, and others.
The war between tech giants intensifies
The war between tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, Apple, and others has intensified in recent years, as they compete for users, data, and revenue in various domains. The tech giants have also clashed over issues such as privacy, security, content moderation, app store policies, and taxation. The tech giants have also been accused of stifling innovation, exploiting workers, and harming society.
The war between tech giants has also attracted the attention of regulators and lawmakers around the world, who have launched investigations and probes into their business practices and market power. The tech giants have faced fines, lawsuits, and legislative proposals that aim to curb their dominance and protect consumers, competitors, and the public interest.
The war between tech giants is likely to continue and escalate, as they vie for supremacy in the digital economy and society.
