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Yahoo Wants to Replace Google as iOS' Default Search Engine

By Kenny Yeo - on 17 Apr 2014, 11:05am

Yahoo Wants to Replace Google as iOS' Default Search Engine

For some time, Apple and Yahoo have been in talks on how to integrate the latter's services more prominently beyond the current Weather and Stock apps. And according to sources familiar with the matter, Yahoo is doubling down on its mobile search efforts in order to convince Apple to make it iOS' default search engine.

It is also said that Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is presently preparing detailed presentations to Apple executives to show what its new mobile search product would look like and that there are two main projects that are part of this redesign, "Fast Break" and "Curveball". Beyond names, it is unclear what these two projects are about.

That has not happened as yet officially and no deal is imminent — it’s just the big honking goal of the new Yahoo effort, said sources. Still, several said Mayer has already buttonholed a few Apple executives on the topic, including its powerful SVP of design, Jony Ive, who knows the former Google exec well.

“This is the aim of the whole effort here, to grab the pole position in iOS search,” said one person working on the effort. “It will take more than pretty pictures, though, to convince Apple to give up Google, given its focus on consumer experience being top-notch. But Marissa wants it very badly.”

While Apple may be a demanding customer, one thing that Mayer has going for her is that Apple knows that by using Google as the default search engine on iOS, they themselves are directly responsible for sending money Google's way. In fact, it is believed that Google makes more money off search from iOS devices than Android devices, and that is clearly something Apple wants to stop.

Source: Re/code

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