As the rivalry between Apple and Google heats up, Microsoft appears to be moving in on Google’s former home turf. Businessweek.com is reporting that Apple and Microsoft are in talks to replace the default Google search on the Safari browser with Bing on the iPhone.
The talks have supposedly been underway for weeks and might be coming to a close; it's possible that Apple will announce the new partnership at its press event next week. It’s unclear if users would be able to switch the default search engine after the deal is struck but the end result will probably be something similar to the deal Microsoft struck with Verizon.
Apple and Google have been going head to head in nearly all areas after Eric Schmidt resigned from the board of directors at Apple over a “conflict of interest”. The two now battle in phone platforms, browsers, and soon to be OS markets.
Currently, new iPhone users are given Google as their default option, with Yahoo! as an option in the settings. Users wishing to search with Bing have to do so through their website or via the Bing iPhone app. The deal isn't seen as a long-term agreement, though. Sources familiar with the company state that Apple may just be buying itself time while it develops its own "skunk works" search engine. However, if Apple does sign with Bing, it’s one more step in the isolation of Google and Apple.
Neowin reporter Michael Brown contributed to this article.
Comments (39)
ReplyHopefully not. I don't see what they would gain either. Apple and Microsoft compete in a lot of the same areas as well.
Yes they do. But search engines isn't one of them. Apple gets money, Microsoft get more Bing users. What's not to gain?
Apple know they will never beat Microsoft at OS stuff - and Microsoft know they will never beat Apple at the iPhone and iPod market. The areas in which they compete offer little loss or gain to either side, so this is benificial for both of them - and one big poke in the eye for google. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
The only thing that Apple and Microsoft can have negotiations will be with Silverlight. Apple don't want flash in iPhone so, which is the other alternative? Silverlight. So who knows if this can became a reality in the future.
b) Silverlight has the same issue as Flash, it executes remote code, which is not allowed. Period..
In addition, both would lead to serious slowdown and drag performance to a crawl, flash can eat up 50% of a modern CPU, and what the iPhone has is far from.
also, flash AND silverlight would make ~80% of the app store redundent... which is why flash is coming to apps store (with remote-downloadable SWFs being allowed inside apps (gasp!)) just not safari... basically shows it's all about the money.
also, flash AND silverlight would make ~80% of the app store redundent... which is why flash is coming to apps store (with remote-downloadable SWFs being allowed inside apps (gasp!)) just not safari... basically shows it's all about the money.
This will be interesting to watch for sure.
indeed
oh and i like your Avatar
meh
Google already knows enough about anyone that uses their products to pre-empt other companies in many areas. Google could become the perfect company because it has nothing but feedback and profiles of everyone on the planet. They'll know exactly what the market needs. Google will eventually let us know exactly who to vote for. Apple will never stand between Google and world dominance.
Ahh a match made in heaven!... lol
Other than the fact that BING search result are much less relevant than the same search using Google, this deal is good for Apple (money) and MS (Bing users).
Apple and Microsoft against Google seems like a good match.
Apple and Microsoft against Google seems like a good match.
I've never had issues with Bing's results. I've gone to google to look for stuff a couple times and results were more relevant on Bing. That's just me though. Everyone is different and what they search for.
...and I'd still use Google :P
So this is, in the big picture, not really too unfathomable. It actually seem to benefit both, so why not. :)
IE 5 was actually released for the Mac. Fun to run that every now and then. Doesn't support ActiveX, though.
It seems like apple will get a bunch of negative attention if this change happens.
Only from fanboys lol
The vast majority of iPhone users, imo, aren't the diehard crazy OSX fans that hate anything if it's got a MS label on it. So I doubt this, if it happens, would hurt Apple at all.
The vast majority of iPhone users, imo, aren't the diehard crazy OSX fans that hate anything if it's got a MS label on it. So I doubt this, if it happens, would hurt Apple at all.
I'm not a Apple anything fan, excpet the iPhone lol. I have the iPhone so you're right about that one. It is true that everyone, not just Apple fans have the phone. It won't hurt them.
How about adding in the option to choose your search provider? Just like Windows users have to choose their web browser...
I wish I could change my provider to bing in the browser. I hate google and especially yahoo. Glad to see the change coming, hopefully.
I just find it ironic that Apple would team up with MS against Google!
bing catching market share like how IE did in the olden days but I see a fail soon.
Do my eyes deceive me? Surely hell must've froze over lol Funny stuff. This will drive a lot of Mac fans crazy lol I think it's a good move. As stated before, they don't compete against each other legitmately in those areas that either company would get hurt. It's just "one big poke in the eye for google". Google is too big for it to hurt them too much but if other companies recognize this and start jumping the bandwagon over to Bing too, than google has something to worry about. I doubt they'll be in trouble for a long long time.
Really? How?
I'm surprised Apple hasn't taken on Google AND MS yet and created their own services....
They aren't that big yet to do so.
Apple needs at least 5 good years to prepare in advance for such a thing. I won't doubt it'll happen in the future though.
Also an explanation for Apple's recent investments. In time everything will connect
would have made sense to at least offer Bing as an option to set as default. Although this is the best case for MS.
Seeing as Microsoft is even MORE an enemy of Apple than Google is (IE, Windows, Windows Mobile, ... compared to just Android), I think Apple would much rather stay with Google or just create something themselves.
PS : No, Chrome isn't direct rivalry with Safari. It's based on the same engine, so if people go Chrome, Apple's happy, because their engine gains market share.
PS : No, Chrome isn't direct rivalry with Safari. It's based on the same engine, so if people go Chrome, Apple's happy, because their engine gains market share.
But they don't compete in the search market.
I wonder if Apple and Google's relationship might fall apart after this. Microsoft could supply the iPhone with Bing Maps and search :)
Too bad we couldn't pick which engine we wanted. I've had terrible results with bing. Google is so much better with searching.
Google will be competing with Apple in the OS market? Really?
Every impression I've gotten about Google's OS is that it isn't designed for workstations at all. Not even a little bit. Maybe if the tablet market REALLY takes off, in which case it'd be like iPhone OS vs Android, which is a battle that has already commenced...
Every impression I've gotten about Google's OS is that it isn't designed for workstations at all. Not even a little bit. Maybe if the tablet market REALLY takes off, in which case it'd be like iPhone OS vs Android, which is a battle that has already commenced...
OS in no way implies that it is for workstations. Okay, so it's not designed for workstations, how is that relevant? As far as I know, a tablet OS, a netbook OS, a phone OS... are all OSs! :|
What a real competition LoL
This would be great news for Apple's customers.
However, we all know that if Internet Explorer locked in a default search provider the EU would get its underwear in a knot and force Microsoft to offer a "search engine ballot box" on startup.
But Apple can dictate what search provider you can have in Safari or their iPhone and it's A-Ok. You have to wonder how long the double-standard is going to last.
Can't we just swap the search engine choice via settings?