[ion1c]

In Europe Androids have had user decided default browser/search engine selection in the out of box set up for years. Google still wins massively because users know it is simply a superior product.

[2OEH8eoCRo0]

Part of the antitrust issue is that Apple never developed their own search engine because of these payments. Google paid Apple to not compete.

I doubt that the same number of people willingly choose Google, otherwise they wouldn't be paying so much money to be the default. That's a lot of money to throw away.

[amadeuspagel]

There would be no choice without that deal either, Apple would simply sell its users to the next highest bidder.

[matthewdgreen]

Or Apple would develop a search engine instead, which is exactly what they did with Maps.

[creato]

How is this different from any typical outsourcing arrangement other than the size?

Outsourcing arrangements many different motivations, it’s not just money. Otherwise, basically any outsourcing arrangement can be said to be “throwing away money” for one party.

[aaomidi]

Right, which is also arguably why we’ve seen competition from other search engines.