Alphabet, Google's parent company, reportedly disbursed a hefty $20 billion(Rs 1.6 Lakh Crore) to Apple in 2022 to secure its position as the default search engine on Apple's Safari web browser, as per Bloomberg.?
This substantial sum marks a significant increase from the approximately $15 billion (Rs 1.2 Lakh Crore) Google paid in 2021, according to documents disclosed as part of the US Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit against Google.?
As Google navigates through an antitrust case examining its agreement with Apple and its implications for monopolizing the online search market, recent reports highlight a notable escalation in the payments made by Google to Apple. In 2021, the figure stood at $15 billion, signaling a significant uptick in recent years. This surge underscores Google's determination to uphold its default status with its search engine, shedding light on the competitive dynamics and strategic imperatives shaping the digital landscape.
Apple allows users to choose their preferred search engine on all its devices, although Google Search is the default option in Safari on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Alternative choices like Bing and DuckDuckGo are also available to users.
While companies like Microsoft have sought to negotiate comparable agreements with Apple, such attempts have reportedly not been successful. Previous reports indicated Microsoft's interest in pitching Bing to Apple, although no agreement materialized. Conversely, there are suggestions that Apple might be engaging in discussions with Google regarding the integration of Gemini AI into its devices.