Last year Google announced it might start offering an alternative of search providers to Android users. The “choice screen” set to appear on Android devices shipped in Europe from March 1st is designed to mitigate Google’s search engine monopoly and provides other providers the possibility to get in front of customers. These different providers, however, will not include Bing.
Thanks to The Verge, which first reported details of Google’s choice screen winners, we know that out of a listing of 31 European nations, Bing made the poll only as soon as. It is solely an option for users in the UK. The privacy-focused DuckDuckGo, in the meantime, is the most regularly offered choice, appearing on the selection display for users in every country.
The four search engines offered to users will differ relying on the region and who’s prepared to pay, since Google will select three providers (in addition to itself) based mostly on how a lot they’re ready to give Google each time a user selects their product because of the default choice.
This may come as one thing of a surprise since Bing has, for a very long time, tried to place itself as critical competitors for Google. However, the alternatives that Google will present do not necessarily signify the most popular search engine options — once more, it comes down to how a lot they’re willing to pay. And that may explain why Bing is just an option in the UK — it is more well known there than elsewhere in the EU.