Date: 2nd August 2019
Google said in a statement that Android mobile device users can choose their default search engine from four different options, which includes Google search. This comes as the US tech giant fight against the antitrust concerns of the European Union.
Google said in a post that the new devices that will be exported to the European Economic Area (EEA) will have a ‘choice screen’ which users can use to choose their default search engine. The options will include Google search and the process will start from 2020.
An auction will be conducted for search engine providers so they can get a spot in the four search engines that the devices are going to offer. Thereafter, the search engines will be displayed on the Android home screen alongside the Chrome browser.
The US tech giant said in a statement that the auctions will take place in all countries in the European Economic Area and the top three bidders will get a spot in the devices.
The European Commission had fined Google 4.34 billion euros for preventing other search engines to be used on Android operating systems. This had blocked competition in the market leading to the antitrust concerns since last year. The Commission said that the company gained an unfair advantage as it integrated its browser and search engine into the Android devices.
After the concerns were made vocal, the tech giant has made sure that devices being shipped in Europe allow users to choose their default search engines from different options. To bid in the auction, search engine providers will have to fill out an application form as well as be eligible according to criteria put up by the company.
vinay 
varsha