[rthomas6]

How does releasing an iOS version of Google Now benefit Google?

Edit: Don't downvote me, I really want to know. It seems to me that Apple is Google's main competitor in the smartphone business. Why would Google give Google Now away to Apple, when it's currently something that give Android an edge over iOS?

[27182818284]

Google makes money from each search. My numbers are probably dated, but at one point it was something like 13 cents a search on the average. Glancing at their 2011 revenue and making a naive approximation by dividing by the number of searches gives about 2 cents per search. Therefore, more people using Google search means more revenue. Also the experience might create a different route to revenue for them. Suppose you start to like Google Maps then Google Now, then maybe Google+, then maybe your next device is a Nexus rather than an iPad.