Android gets additional Search partners in the EU

Google has added some new providers that you can use the Google Search bar in Android with, all in order to comply with an EU Commission ruling.

Now, there will be a Search setup process that will allow you to choose from a variety of search engines. The EU in an anti-trust lawsuit said that Google prioritized its own Search products in the Android operating system. It was fined $5 billion for that, and largely because Google took up over 90% of the Search market share, in the EU.

So now, we have the Search setup process on Android in the EU. You’ll be able to choose a search provider that will power your Android phone’s search features, but surprisingly, we’re still not seeing Bing on there.

Google is working to make the Search providers on its setup screen as neutral as possible. They plan on setting up a sort of auction:

“In each country auction, search providers will state the price that they are willing to pay each time a user selects them from the choice screen in the given country. Each country will have a minimum bid threshold. The three highest bidders that meet or exceed the bid threshold for a given country will appear in the choice screen for that country.”

This new option should arrive early 2020. However, the application for search providers to be involved in this process will start today.

source: Google