Andrew Orr
The ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Alphabet by the Justice Department has revealed that Google paid Apple a staggering $20 billion in 2022 for default search engine status.
Google's relationship has been under heavy scrutiny during an antitrust lawsuit accusing the company of using its size as an advantage to prevent competitors from entering the search market. One of the biggest issues in question is how much it pays Apple, which was previously estimated to be nearly $20 billion — a figure proven true by a new court filing.
Despite attempts by Google and Apple to keep the payment confidential, details emerged during the trial through testimony and accidental disclosures. According to a report from Bloomberg, court documents revealed that Google paid Apple $20 billion in 2022 to be the default search engine on Apple platforms.
The $20 billion figure wasn't in Apple or Google's security filings, but it was confirmed by unsealed testimonies. The figure was shared by Eddy Cue, Apple Senior Vice President of Services, during the trial.
Initially a free arrangement, it evolved into a lucrative deal where, by May 2021, Google was paying Apple over $1 billion monthly. In 2020, the figure was 17.5% of Apple's total operating income.
Other figures were also disclosed by the filing. Microsoft tried to take over as the default search engine with Bing by offering 90% of its advertising revenue. Bing was even offered up for sale to Apple in 2020.
These factors are likely damning for Google's case. Google and the DOJ will offer closing arguments on Thursday and Friday, but a decision won't be made until later in the year.
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13 Comments
Yup. They sure did. And then they sacked a bunch of high-level employees to payoff some of the tab. In addition to which a mate of mine tells me that the meals in the cafeteria are no longer fully subsidised.
Google, has and always will be a one-trick pony. A very wealthy pony but that's it. If this whole AI thing comes of age someone else - not the makers of MS-DOS - will usurp Google in search and that will be it.
Without Search there is nothing else that they offer. Look at their website, every project they have ever attempted has gone to the elephant graveyard. I kid you not there's a website that lists some twenty products that they have RIP'ed.
Yes, they have Google Maps - which I use all the time, I don't trust Apple Maps - but that's not a money maker. They also have Google Docs - a mere blimp on their financial statement. And oh yes, YouTube. Does that make money?
Apple needs to absorb Google Search; Netflix and Spotify and it will become a 5 trillion company. Forget the Apple Jalopy and this Vision Pro madness. Google Search, Netflix and Spotify make money and they will make heaps more if Tim & Team manages them.
Never, even for a single search, have I used this Google thing.