Google Paid $1 Billion to be Default Search Engine in iOS

We all know how Google will go to any lengths to retain its position as the most popular search engine in the world. With over 40,000 searches each second and 3.5 billion searches per day, it seems they don’t need to do more to improve their popularity. However, reports have surfaced that Google has paid Apple a hefty fee in the past to keep the search bar in iOS devices.

For years, many people know (through rumors) that Google pays Apple to give priority to their search engine in iOS devices, no one really knows the details. However, the recent Oracle America Inc. v. Google Inc., 10-cv-03561, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco) case may shed light on the issue.

For those who don’t know, Oracle has sued Google for in a copyright lawsuit. The company claims that Google developed the Android platform using its Java software but never paid for it. Initially, the case was filed at the Supreme Court, but was transferred to William Alsup, a U.S. District Judge in San Francisco, after Google was denied the chance to derail the case. They now seek more than $1 Billion in damages, since Google has developed newer versions of the Android platform.

According to a transcript from the court hearing, it is revealed that Google paid $1 Billion to Apple to maintain its position as the default search engine in iOS devices worldwide. Also, Google pays a percentage of the revenue generated by a user on an iOS device, according to a lawyer who represents Oracle in the case on January 14, 2016 in federal court.

Both Apple and Google, whose spokespersons include Kristin Huguet and Aaron Stein respectively, refused to comment on the information. Seems very logical they would want to keep the details of the agreement hidden from the public.

“The specific financial terms of Google’s agreement with Apple are highly sensitive to both Google and Apple. Both Apple and Google have always treated this information as extremely confidential,” said Google.

A Google witness commented that “at one point in time, the revenue share was at 34%”, referring to the iOS search engine agreement between Apple and Google. However, it is unclear whether 34% is the cut that Google receives or Apple keeps from the searches.

After this comment was made, Google lawyer Robert Van Nest was quoted saying, "That percentage just stated, that should be sealed. We are talking hypotheticals here. That's not a publicly known number.” The record of this statement ever being made totally disappeared at around 3 P.M. PST. All Hail Google!