Google to allow rival search engines to compete on Android – at a price

BRUSSELS/BENGALURU (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google will allow rivals to compete to be the default search engines on new Android gadgets in Europe, however they may have to pay for the privilege.

In its newest proposal to thrust back contemporary EU antitrust penalties, Google on Friday introduced plans to public sale spots on a “choice screen” from which customers will choose their most popular search engine.

The transfer comes a 12 months after the European Commission fined the U.S. tech big 4.34 billion euros ($4.81 billion) for blocking rivals by pre-putting in its Chrome browser and search app on Android smartphones and notebooks.

The EU competitors enforcer additionally ordered the corporate to halt its anti-aggressive practices or face fines up to 5% of Alphabet’s common every day worldwide turnover.

Google mentioned in a weblog publish that customers in Europe will, from early 2020, have the ability to choose a default search engine from 4 choices, together with Google, after they arrange a new Android smartphone or pill. (bit.ly/2yuIiwh)

Rival search engines can apply to be part of Google among the many 4 choices in separate auctions for every particular person nation. In the occasion that fewer than three search suppliers meet or exceed the bid threshold, Google will fill any remaining slots randomly from a pool together with those who requested to participate within the auctions however didn’t submit bids.

COOL RECEPTION

While customers could have a selection of default search engine on their new Android gadgets for the primary time, the plans weren’t nicely obtained by a few of Google’s rivals.

“It’s Google’s way of creating a new revenue stream while giving rivals an option. Basically they are complying with the EU order in the letter but not in the spirit,” mentioned Ecosia, which describes itself as an moral search engine that makes use of earnings to plant timber.

Ecosia was one of many rivals used for instance in Google’s weblog publish.

“If we choose to enter an auction and pay Google for the privilege of being a search engine option on Android, this will potentially be at the expense of millions of trees we could otherwise have planted,” mentioned Ecosia Chief Executive Christian Kroll.

“The EU’s anti-competition ruling is clear – Google has too much power. The decision over which search engines are able to use Android, which is the second-largest operating system in the world, shouldn’t be up to Google. It should be up to users.”

Czech search engine Seznam mentioned it was not clear what the implications shall be.

“It is hard to comment based on a screenshot and a few sentences. Seznam, and I believe others, too, were not contacted by Google about this proposition, so we have to wait for all-important details,” mentioned Michal Feix, Seznam’s former chief government and now companion at a consultancy advising the corporate.

EU WATCHING CLOSELY

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