You may soon have more choices for Android’s search engine – at least if you live in Europe. How TechCrunch Reports (Disclaimer: this author writes for TCs Sibling side Engadget) Google abolished an auction system where businesses pay or have a chance to be included in the European Android search selection screen. It will also include more than the existing four choices.
Continue reading: Google vs. EU: Which side are you on?
After “further feedback” (read: pressure) from the EU Commission, the Internet giant is now allowing qualified Android search providers to participate free of charge. How Bloomberg Last month, EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager remarked that the auction system was broken and the EU was “actively” working on a solution. In other words, Google risked further regulatory action if it didn’t act first.
The updated Android search selection screen should arrive in September.
Google launched auctions in 2018 in response to the $ 5 billion EU antitrust fine for alleged anti-competitive behavior that included a requirement that the company sell its search engine outside of Google Play. The company claimed that its pay-to-participate approach to the search selection screen helped competition, but competing search engines were reluctant. They said the paid system not only makes it more difficult for smaller search providers, it penalizes alternative business models (like the tree-planting engine Ecosia) and has too few slots.
This doesn’t mean that when you set up a new Android phone in Europe you always see Ecosia, DuckDuckGo, or other alternative search engines. You will certainly see more choices, however, and you may see engines that were rarely (if ever) options in the past. This is good news if you’re not a fan of Google searches or just want more flexibility in personalizing your devices.
