Microsoft Begged Apple to Adopt Bing as Safari's Default Search Engine

[MacRumors]

Microsoft repeatedly attempted to persuade Apple to switch to Bing as the default search engine for Safari or even buy it outright, it has emerged.

The information was disclosed in documents as part of Google's ongoing antitrust case against the U.S. Justice Department (via CNBC). According to the filings, Microsoft approached Apple in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2020, proposing that Bing should replace Google as the default search engine in Safari.

Apple consistently declined these offers, citing concerns over Bing's search quality relative to Google's. The documents reveal that in 2018 Microsoft not only suggested making Bing the default search engine but also offered to sell Bing to Apple or establish a joint venture around the search engine. These proposals were similarly turned down by Apple.

The court filings provide insight into Apple's decision-making process, highlighting the company's evaluation of Bing's capabilities against Google's. Eddy Cue, Apple's Senior Vice President of Services, is quoted in the filings expressing skepticism about Bing's search quality and Microsoft's investment in search technology.

Google pays billions of dollars to remain the default search engine on Apple devices. Google argues that Microsoft's repeated pitches to Apple demonstrate the competitive nature of the search engine market, countering allegations that Google holds a monopoly in web search advertising.

Article Link: Microsoft Begged Apple to Adopt Bing as Safari's Default Search Engine

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Buy it outright?

LMAO

 

[chrono1081]

I wonder if Apple will change its tune after the horrid results Google has been giving as of late. Bing has always been far better at media searches (yes, including those media searches) and lately Bings results have been a lot better than Googles.

 

[boswald]

Nobody wants Bing. Not even Microsoft. It would be sad if it wasn’t so hilarious!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I believe the final paragraph says it all:

1. [Apple] Roll your own SE and NOT get billions of dollars
2. Buy Bing and NOT get billions of dollars
3. Switch to any other SE and NOT get billions of dollars
4. Stick with Google and get billions of dollars

I wonder if they picked a number out of a hat or spun the bottle, after what I assume was weeks of contentious debate to have to find somewhere to store those billions if they went with #4.

 

[cicalinarrot]

They also begged me, what a coincidence.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Good for Apple for turning it down. It's 💩

 

[Robert.Walter]

Forgo billions in income so as to have an inferior SE, or not?

Decision was simple.

 

[gleepskip]

They also begged me, what a coincidence.

I think this thread is going to be full of people giving their own experiences being approached by Microsoft to buy Bing from them.

When they approached my family, unfortunately I had just bought groceries and, with the high food prices lately, I was unable to afford buying Bing at that time. It's too bad; it's been a lifelong dream to own a mediocre search engine.

 

[I7guy]

Google is by far the most popular and to me the best. Bing has its place, but seems like a good decision by apple. Back in the day.

 

[MichaelDroste]

I hate google and detest bing - there needs to be a new search engine…

 

[Harry Haller]

If the Prince of Darkness offered Apple $10 billion more than Google to use his search engine we all know what Tim Apple would do.

 

[soyazul]

in your dreams Microsoft! hhaahhaah

 

[Harry Haller]

I hate google and detest bing - there needs to be a new search engine…

Do you hate Apple for taking $18 billion from Google?

 

[polbit]

While Google is definitely the best search engine right now, Apple has done this once already, with Maps. They really need to do it again...

 

[Dredd67]

I don't get the clickbaity title.

Isn't this standard procedure? I mean, there's a spot to get (default search engine) that happens to get renewed every year or so. Isn't it a given that others will make an offer besides Google?

Also, given Google's dominance on the market, there's not much incentive to change this besides selling the whole thing, especially when it's not an attractive proposition for yourself. You know, "Hey, I'm not really using this Bing thing since pivoting to cloud services, but maybe it can be of some value to you, wanna buy it cheap?"

From a strict business point of view, it makes sense and it's not shameful.

 

[Gregory_H]

I wonder if Apple will change its tune after the horrid results Google has been giving as of late. Bing has always been far better at media searches (yes, including those media searches) and lately Bings results have been a lot better than Googles.

Just no! Bing has never come close in any search period, and I despise google.

 

[burgman]

Google is by far the most popular and to me the best. Bing has its place, but seems like a good decision by apple. Back in the day.

Getting worse everyday on IOS, to me.

 

[nylonsteel]

i always disable bing on my computers
goog chrome and safari are fine with me
good aapl collects billions from goog

 

[AppleTO]

Apparently Google search has over 90% marketshare. No reason for Apple to switch, especially given how much they are paid by Google.

 

[coffeemilktea]

In an ironic twist, Bing may actually be the superior search engine now. Whether this is because Bing has genuinely gotten a lot better (all those AI advancements must count for something), or whether it's because Google has gotten so much worse... well, who knows.

(okay, but seriously, why are Google search results so bad these days? 🙃)

 

[MacLawyer]

Bing's not that bad, but Google got there first.

 

[eno12]

Why should Apple trust Microsoft with anything? This is the company that stole Lisa OS, tried to box Apple out of the marketplace through strategic purchases, purposefully created inoperability between their products for Windows and macOS, etc. Microsoft is the single most antagonistic company Apple had ever had to deal with. They are better now that balmer is gone but they have still have no incentive to fully commit to developing software for macOS unless it hurts their other competitors (Google for example). To hell with Microsoft and good on Apple for refusing to buy the streaming pile that is Bing.

 

[cateye]

I don't understand. Having an inferior option in Maps compared to Google was no problem for years for Apple, I don't see why Search should've been different.

(relax, it's a joke, save me the "why u hate AppleJesus" PMs)

 

[PsykX]

Nobody wants Bing. Not even Microsoft. It would be sad if it wasn’t so hilarious!

When I'm on my Windows PC at work, I use Bing every single day and it works amazingly well.

I use it to search for Google.