Google Android Search Engine Auction: a Cheeky Response to EU
To call it brazen would be an understatement. A year ago, the European Commission fined Google parent Alphabet Inc. 4.3 billion euros ($4.8 billion) and ordered it to stop making its search engine the default on Android-powered smartphones. On Friday, the tech behemoth presented its remedy: it will ask other search engines to pay for the privilege.
When setting up their handsets, Android users will get a choice of search engines, including Google. To determine which others to include, the search giant will hold an auction in each European Union member state and give the highest bidders slots.
To call it brazen would be an understatement. A year ago, the European Commission fined Google parent Alphabet Inc. 4.3 billion euros ($4.8 billion) and ordered it to stop making its search engine the default on Android-powered smartphones. On Friday, the tech behemoth presented its remedy: it will ask other search engines to pay for the privilege.
When setting up their handsets, Android users will get a choice of search engines, including Google. To determine which others to include, the search giant will hold an auction in each European Union member state and give the highest bidders slots.
