Tech Giants Clash: Microsoft Accuses Apple of Using Bing as a Google 'Bargaining Chip'

During the US government's antitrust trial against Google, a Microsoft executive revealed that Bing was never more than a bargaining chip for Apple in the search-engine wars with Google. Microsoft has been trying to displace Google as the default search engine for iPhones for years, but Apple has never seriously considered switching to Bing. The executive stated that Apple makes more money from Bing's existence than Bing itself does. Microsoft has met with Apple as recently as 2021 to discuss a potential switch, but no progress was made. Bing becoming the default search engine on iPhones would be "game changing" for Microsoft, as they currently lack mobile traffic.