New Delhi, May 3: Google reportedly paid Apple USD 22 billion to remain the default search engine on the iPhone's Safari browser in 2022. In the beginning of 2021, Google invested USD 15 billion to secure its position as the primary search engine on Apple devices. In a recent report, Google revealed the amount it had allocated to maintain this agreement through 2022.

As per a report of ABP Live, Google paid Apple USD 22 billion to be the default search engine on the Safari browser in 2022. This agreement is one of several key focuses in an antitrust case against Google brought by the government, which alleges that it has maintained monopolies over online advertising and search markets. Google Introduces Audio Emojis for Android Phones; Check Details and Know What To Expect.

The India Today report further elaborates that in 2022, Google paid Apple $20 billion to continue being the default search engine on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This payment amount was disclosed in newly unsealed court documents from the U.S. government's ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Google, as per a report of India Today.

Microsoft also repeatedly tried to get Apple to make Bing the default search engine instead of Google on iPhones. Microsoft even offered to give Apple 90% of the ad revenue Bing generates, but Apple stuck with Google because its search engine was better in quality and capabilities. Google’s deal with Apple has allowed the company to block competition and create a monopoly in online search and advertising and having the default status on Safari's browser on iPhones gives Google a major advantage over rival search engines like Microsoft's Bing. Apple Logs Double-Digit Growth in India, Experts Predict Third-Largest Market Status Within Two to Three Years.

If Google does not win the antitrust lawsuit, it may be forced to stop paying billions to dollars to Apple to remain the default iPhone search engine. It is likely that this will have significant implications for both companies and the broader market for search engines.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 03, 2024 05:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).