it's not customer acquisition though, Google can most likely get lot of users off safari to chrome for cheaper but issue would be that Apple would then get incentive to build search (and like apple maps, they can just embed it into everything without option to change default)
disclaimer: Googler here(not in search PA), this is my personal opinion.
Not trying to be a dick or anything — how is it not customer acquisition?
Google knows that there is some percentage of iPhone users who will only ever search with the default Safari engine. Google really wants those users. Google is paying to make sure those users use Google.
I mean, that is definitionally “customer acquisition cost,” right? Or am I missing something?
> and like apple maps, they can just embed it into everything without option to change default
The EU would have serious problems with that because of the way Apple used the Music.app > Apple Music transition to basically crowbar themselves into the music streaming market.
They still do it on maps (someone texts you address it ll only open in apple maps and even if you change default app you cant change that), idk if that's any different in europe
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/mar/04/google-ke... looks like 2 different things (barry dillar met them but larry was on phone which he thought was rude, clicks vs impressions was something google was looking for in CEO (eric schmidt passed that test or something))
in the case they said it's in the teens, so that's after crazy level of dark patterns (probably if they do age analysis it's gonna skew towards more single digit share for younger demographic)
It saves you the trouble when your order goes wrong and way easier to argue/negotiate, it's the same reason airbnb works (else why wouldnt you just exchange number with the host and rent it directly)
disclaimer: Googler here(not in search PA), this is my personal opinion.