Apple Bing could be a reality, according to Google lawsuit legal documents
A few months ago, more precisely in September 2023, we were discussing the possibility that Apple could have bought Microsoft Bing in 2020. The information, from Bloomberg, indicated that Microsoft offered its search engine to Apple. The search engine could have been integrated into Siri, Spotlight and Safari… but Google ended up winning the game.
Well, new legal documents from the United States Department of Justice provide more details in reference to conversations between Apple and Microsoft during the trial after the antitrust lawsuit against Google.
From CNBC they point out that Microsoft wanted to sell Bing to Apple much earlier, in 2018. Information that Google used to emphasize that there is “competition” in the sector.
Apple chose Google and abandoned Microsoft Bing
Representatives from Microsoft and Apple testified in the trial against Google
Lately, many technology companies are subject to legal and social control by different regulatory bodies. This is happening to Apple with its App Store before the European Commission and now also to Google with the US Department of Justice.
The request is that Google would protect its advertising and web search monopoly by avoiding competition. When Apple was called to testify in this case, they insisted that they simply chose Google because it was the best choice for their electronic devices.
Remember that Google pays Apple up to $20 billion a year to keep its search engine as the main option for Safari and other services. And now we learn that Microsoft has also wanted to make Bing Safari the default search engine on at least seven occasions: 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2020. Apple abandoned the idea, opting for Google as a higher quality option.
In each case, Apple looked at the relative quality of Bing versus Google and concluded that Google was the better choice for its Safari users. That’s competition.
Google’s statements also include Comments from Eddy Cue, director of services at Apple, stating that “Google was the best option” and that “Microsoft’s search quality was not as good.” As well as its advertising system and its form of monetization.
