Insta
Apple Ramping Up Efforts To Develop Alternative To Google Search: Report
IANS
Oct 28, 2020, 04:08 PM | Updated 04:08 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Apple is reportedly ramping up its efforts to develop an alternative to Google search as the search engine giant has come under antitrust scrutiny in the US.
When iPhone users type in what they are looking for from the home screen on iOS 14, Apple has begun to display its own website search results, The Financial Times reported on Wednesday (28 October).
This is an important development in Apple's efforts to develop in-house search alternative, said the report, citing sources.
This gains significance in the backdrop of the lawsuit that the US Justice Department and 11 states filed last week, alleging that Google weaponised its dominance in online search and advertising to kill off competition and harm consumers.
Google, which now controls about 90 per cent of global web searches, pays Apple an estimated $8 billion to $12 billion every year to be the iPhone's default search tool, according to reports.
If the antitrust scrutiny ultimately bars Google from such a partnership, Apple's efforts to build an alternative would pay off.
Interestingly, Apple hired former head of search at Google, John Giannandrea, back in December 2018.
Top analysts earlier this year even suggested that Apple can end its reliance on Google if it acquires privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo.
(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.