Following the European Commission's antitrust decision against Google last March, the US tech giant is forced to offer Android users in the EU multiple search engine options to choose from.
As part of the plans, users in the region will be able to choose their default search engine from at least four options while setting up their Android devices starting March 1.
Although one of the options, obviously, will be Google. The others would vary from country to country depending on the money these operators are willing to pay Google to enter the so-called 'Choice Screen'.
The list of options was designed in consultation with the European Commission and will be presented to Android phone users in the region when they first set up their device.
Now that the highest bidders have been announced, Microsoft's Bing appears to have lost out to independent, privacy-focused service DuckDuckGo, which has carved out a niche for itself among privacy-conscious Internet users online.
According to the official list, DuckDuckGo will be an option in all EU countries, while Bing will be conspicuous by its absence. The only place in Europe where Microsoft's search engine will be offered is the UK. That's where DuckDuckGo and Info.com will be the other third party options. You can go to the official Android blog to see the complete list o talk to us on the Choice screen.
It is worth noting here that Ecosia, a search engine run by an environmental group that claims to plant trees around the world with its search profits, boycotted the entire auction process, saying Google's actions violated "The spirit of the EU decision".
In a press release, its CEO and founder, Christian Kroll, further said that the company will register an official complaint with EU lawmakers against US tech giant Google.
After Google ban Huawei, already has another open front. As we can see, things are tense between European legislators, US technology companies and search engines. Who will win? We think that between whistles and flutes, San Google will win.
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