New information has come out of the antitrust trial between the US DOJ (Department of Justice) and Google. Notably, Google is accused of stopping Apple and Samsung from adding a new search engine to their smartphones. According to new info, Google allegedly pays multi-billion dollars to ensure it is the default search engine on iPhone and Galaxy smartphones.
These comments are from Patrick Chang, a former executive who worked at Samsung's Venture Capital unit, Samsung Next. Chang worked at Samsung Next to find innovative companies that Samsung could invest in. In this line, he spoke with the company's higher-ups about adding an app called Branch to Samsung Galaxy handsets. For your information, Branch is an app that searches within apps to answer queries instead of looking over the internet.
Alexander Austin, the founder and former CEO of Branch Metrics, alleged that the company had to drop some of the software functions to meet Google's demands for deals with carriers and smartphone manufacturers. As per Austin, the company had to resist its searches to remain inside the apps and not be based on the web. Samsung Next's Chang also testified that apart from Google blocking Samsung from using Branch, AT&T, and other carriers also did the same since they were also getting a share of Samsung's annual payments.
The Department of Justice accused Google of paying $10 billion a year in revenue share to be the default search engine on Samsung and Apple phones. However, other reports say that Samsung had its share of reasons for not using the Branch Search app. The trial is currently in its fourth week.
