You might think that it’s a simple matter of popularity with how Google and its web browser are usually the ones of choice for most people. That’s true, but it turns out the popularity and predominance of Chrome and the like isn’t entirely organic. There’s money influencing how most people regard Google as their de facto choice for a web browser, and it’s interesting to learn that these web technology giants are buying their way to the level of renown that they have. For anyone that’s not familiar, it was earlier this year that there started to be some talk about Google losing some of its popularity with people.
New web browsers will continue to arrive, and that will always eat into the popularity of existing ones, even if only for a short period of time. But people do stick with Chrome by and large, and having a look over at least some of what’s contributing to this is what we’ll discuss with our entry here this week. It’s all about the number one spot for search engine use in the USA, and the numbers that Google and others will pay to have a sway of influence over technology developers. They’re not small values, and you’ll soon see what we mean about that.
This is a topic that is going to be of interest to any Canadian web hosting provider like us here at 4GoodHosting, or any other. That’s because it’s web browsers and search engines that allow people to visit the websites we host for customers, and of course much of the time there are business interests in those sites and the means by which people visit can be a valuable metric.
Buying the Spot?
All of Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics and other telecom giants receive billions of dollars from Alphabet Inc. (Google) to allow it to maintain its spot as the world’s No. 1 search engine, and while they didn’t specify exactly how much it is costing them to stay as the default search engine on most browsers and all US mobile phones, but apparently it is an enormous number. The belief is that Google is buying default exclusivity because there is extreme value in having that for them.
Google's contracts are also forming the basis of a US Department of Justice’s landmark antitrust lawsuit, and the allegation being that Alphabet Inc. has attempted to maintain its online search monopoly but in violation of antitrust laws while doing so. This Google antitrust suit has been slow to get going with the fact it got its start during the Trump administration, but it does signify the first major effort to control the power of tech giants, and this is occurring at the same time as the world becomes increasingly aware of how major tech platforms can wreak on the economy and children's health.
The countering belief is that the DOJ misunderstand the market and focus too much on smaller search engine rivals like Bing, Firefox, and others. Keep in mind as well that Google faces competition from dozens of other companies, and there is no shortage of additional sites where consumers are able to search for information. Google does face competition that is outside of the realm of search engines / web browsers themselves.
Fresh Data Needed
Obtaining fresh data on user search queries is integral to any search engine's success, and as we know Google has Chrome – the most popular browser – and Android – the second most popular operating system. Google’s search engine and its popularity have much to do with contracts that Alphabet Inc. have with Apple, smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola as well as 3 major US telecom carriers in AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
Between all of this the result is that Google’s search engine is the default install on nearly all new phones and these contracts make Google the gateway with which most people find websites on the internet. This is what allows Google to prevent rivals from gaining anything of a similar foothold with regards to market control. It results in Google’s dominance being difficult to challenge.
The company has had working contracts with Apple and browsers like Mozilla for nearly 20 years now, with the revenue-sharing deals that Google offers to browsers being essential to companies like Mozilla Corp as they offer their products to users for free. Partnering with Google has a lot of inherent value for them, even as they likely have some level of resentment towards the near monopoly the tech Giant is buying for themselves.
