Apple's Eddy Cue Explains Why Google is iPhone's Default Search Engine

[MacRumors]

Apple's services chief Eddy Cue today testified in the antitrust trial between the U.S. Department of Justice and Google, answering questions about a deal that sees Google set as the default search engine on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

According to a report from The Verge today, Google pays Apple billions of dollars per year in order for Google to be set as the default search engine on Apple platforms. The exact amount that Google pays Apple has not been publicly disclosed during the trial, as a lot of the testimony in the case has taken place behind closed doors.

Cue reportedly last negotiated the deal between Apple and Google in 2016. When asked why Apple chose Google as its default search engine, Cue said "there wasn't a valid alternative to Google at the time," and he said there still isn't one.

"We make Google be the default search engine because we've always thought it was the best," added Cue. "We pick the best one and let users easily change it."

Cue acknowledged that Apple feels it is more committed to privacy than Google, but argued that the deal between the two companies requires Google to allow users to search without logging in, and said that Apple has built several privacy protections into its Safari web browser in order to ensure that users are safeguarded.

Cue also admitted that Apple does not allow users to change the default search engine during the iPhone's setup process, but he said this decision supports Apple's goal of getting users "up and running as fast as possible."

To change the iPhone's default search engine at any point after setup, users can simply open the Settings app, tap Safari, tap Search Engine, and select one of the available options: Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Ecosia.

The Verge and The New York Times have additional coverage of Cue's testimony.

Article Link: Apple's Eddy Cue Explains Why Google is iPhone's Default Search Engine

 

[Razorpit]

Money.

 

[falkon-engine]

I mean, why not?

 

[cableguy84]

Google gonna be obsolete soon with AI advancements Apple should start looking elsewhere

 

[JosephAW]

The same reason all the other browsers do it, for the money💰💰💰

 

[Shasterball]

The answer is always $$$$$. We aren't stupid, Eddy.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Because at apple , we believe in profits and margins , and google was the only ones to pay us enough

 

[Skyscraperfan]

That does not make sense. If Apple chose Google, because it is the best search engine, why would Google still have to pay billions of dollars to Apple then?

 

[vegetassj4]

Tim Cook was spotted leaving Google's offices right before Cue made the following press release:

"We pick the best one and let users easily change it"

 

[coolfactor]

I've often tried to use DuckDuckGo as my default, but keep going back to Google. The results, especially in a generic private window, are much more accurate. I really wish there was a decent competitor, but Cue is right... Google is still the best for accurate search results.

I use Private browsing for most of my browsing, so generic (not logged in) searches are essential, and Google has it nailed.

With how the Safari team designed the new Profiles feature, you can have some fun with it. I created one called "Broken". 🤣

 

[fatTribble]

I switched to Ecosia over a year ago and never looked back. Before that I used Bing. Never found a need to search google for anything

 

[klasma]

For once, I have to say that he’s completely right.

 

[coolfactor]

That does not make sense. If Apple chose Google, because it is the best search engine, why would Google still have to pay billions of dollars to Apple then?

Payment for the privilege of being the default.

 

[sunapple]

On my personal devices I have been using DuckDuckGo ever since it first became available as an option. It has been reliable and does the job, never looked back.

 

[jdclifford]

Because Google pays Apple $Billions/yr to do it.

 

[m.x]

Money.

Their strategy with services gets a major boost from Google - I mean the estimated $20bn are a quarter of the service revenue of 2022 (~$78bn), which is simply insane.

 

[klasma]

That does not make sense. If Apple chose Google, because it is the best search engine, why would Google still have to pay billions of dollars to Apple then?

I guess Cue had a tough poker face in the negotiations.

 

[appleguy123]

I can think of hundred$ of million$ of rea$on$

 

[jdclifford]

On my personal devices I have been using DuckDuckGo ever since it first became available as an option. It has been reliable and does the job, never looked back.

Same here. I've used it exclusively since it became available.

 

[bluecoast]

It's obviously about the money.

I hate it when Apple lies about things like this, as they burn trust with their users.

Apple goes out of its way to build in privacy to its products - I mean even the new version of Safari for Ventura that I've just downloaded has the privacy stuff from Sonoma (and all credit to them for doing that).

Yet it chooses its default search engine as Google, who along with Facebook, are one of the most privacy unfriendly companies in tech.

It would be pretty easy for them to have a 'search engine choice' screen on first loading up a new phone or Mac with their existing search engines, if they really cared about users in this regard.

Obviously the 6 or so billion $ US a year that Google pay them, is more important.

 

[coolfactor]

I switched to Ecosia over a year ago and never looked back. Before that I used Bing. Never found a need to search google for anything

Will give this one a try (again). Completely forgot about it, but I totally support their mission. We need more trees!

 

[cicalinarrot]

We pay Apple to let them sell our data to Google so Google can sell it to other people who pay Google to be the first result we see instead of what we were looking for.
See? The market is obviously self-regulating.

 

[bluecoast]

Same here. I've used it exclusively since it became available.

Ditto. When I do go back to Google (in private browsing), I'm shocked at what a mess the main search results page has become.

DDG is like I remember the Google of the 00s being - simple, focussed and fast, with non intrusive ads.

 

[coolfactor]

It's obviously about the money.

I hate it when Apple lies about things like this, as they burn trust with their users.

Apple goes out of its way to build in privacy to its products - I mean even the new version of Safari for Ventura that I've just downloaded has the privacy stuff from Sonoma (and all credit to them for doing that).

Yet it chooses its default search engine as Google, who along with Facebook, are one of the most privacy unfriendly companies in tech.

It would be pretty easy for them to have a 'search engine choice' screen on first loading up a new phone or Mac with their existing search engines, if they really cared about users in this regard.

Obviously the 6 or so billion $ US a year that Google pay them, is more important.

You can't argue against the accuracy and completeness of Google search results. They continue to be King in that regard.

You, as a user, have ways to protect your privacy, while also leveraging the best of Google Search. Just use Private browsing windows. Then Google knows nothing about you when you do a search, other than your IP address. And if that is a concern, use a VPN. Problems solved... completely anonymous usage of Google. Been doing it this way for years.

 

[coolfactor]

We pay Apple to let them sell our data to Google so Google can sell it to other people who pay Google to be the first result we see instead of what we were looking for.
See? The market is obviously self-regulating.

Apple doesn't sell user data to Google.