Apple is switching the default provider of its web searches from Siri, iOS Search and macOS Spotlight from Bing to Google, reports TechCrunch.
“Switching to Google as the web search provider for Siri, Search within iOS and Spotlight on Mac will allow these services to have a consistent web search experience with the default in Safari,” Apple said in a statement. “We have strong relationships with Google and Microsoft and remain committed to delivering the best user experience possible.”
Last month Bernstein analyst A.M. Sacconaghi Jr. told clients that Google will pay Apple $3 billion this year to remain the default search engine on iPhones and iPads. Google paid Apple $1 billion for the privilege in 2014. The Google licensing payments are mostly profit for Apple. Bernstein estimates the payments could account for up to 5% of Apple’s operating profits in 2017.
