Google To Pay Even More For Default iOS Search Status?
March 13, 2012
Deja vu?
As part of its ongoing antitrust investigation of Google, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has subpoenaed Apple for details about the latter's agreement to make Google the default search engine in iOS. Says Bloomberg,
The subpoena indicates the FTC is intensifying its scrutiny of Google’s business practices. Details of the Apple-Google relationship may show whether Google is abusing its dominance of Internet search to boost revenue in the mobile phone advertising market...However, it should be noted that Apple is not the only Google partner/competitor to be called to court on the matter. Various (as-yet-unnamed) hardware manufacturers, handset makers, and wireless providers have also received subpoenas, and the European Commission is said to be paying close attention to the current proceedings in preparation for its own antitrust hearing next month.
