Google’s Tiff With Apple Opens iPhone to Microsoft
By Ed Oswald | Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 12:23 pm
It’s no secret that Apple and Microsoft have one of the stranger relationships in tech. While Microsoft has produced software such as Office for the Macintosh platform, and Apple has opened its doors to Windows with its switch to Intel, they still are highly competitive with each other. But Cupertino’s relationship with Google is souring far faster, which is the perfect opening for Microsoft when it comes to the iPhone.
Apple is apparently in discussions with Microsoft to give the Bing search engine the top spot for search on iPhone, which currently belongs to Google. These talks have been underway for several weeks, BusinessWeek reports, but nothing as of yet has been finalized.
Getting on the iPhone as the default search engine would be a huge win for Bing. I regularly search for things on my iPhone, so just the boost there in search queries would help Microsoft overall in gaining some search share, something it sorely needs. It’s not clear whether any search deal would also extend to the Safari browser, available on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms.
Either way, its pretty likely that Google wouldn’t be completely erased from the iPhone. YouTube is a popular application. Apple would probably also let users switch back to Google in settings just like it already does now if users wish to search using Yahoo. Bing Maps could replace Google Maps, however.
What are your thoughts on the increasingly hostile relationship between Apple and Google? Who stands to benefit most here? We’d like to hear what you think.
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January 21st, 2010 at 1:28 pm
I don’t like the idea of Bing Maps. Google still has the best maps engine on the internet. The text is readable and consistent, fonts are smoothed properly, etc.
January 21st, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I think a change to Bing would be a sad day for consumers (losing the superior google products), a sad day for Apple (Upsetting its loyal customers), a sad day for Google (Losing market share and their relationship with Apple). Google’s various innovations such as street veiw, coupled with potential contributions such as a free turn by turn GPS app are surely enough reason alone that Apple and Google should get mediating and see how both companies can make the best of the current situation. I certainly don’t want to see Microsoft being the only winner out of this.
January 21st, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Next on the list is dropping EI and making Safari default browser on Windows. =D
September 1st, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Ehh. I still use Google. I’v tried Bing (Set it as Omnibar search and homepage) but when searching the results where not as easy to find and get through as Google. But at least it’s more publicity and stuff for MS.