Billions in Google revenue could ride on Apple renewing iOS search deal

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  • Reply 21 of 76
    Apple will renew the deal with Google. (Apple will get around 10% of those ad income, so free money)
    However, there's a catch.

    Apple will build their own search engine, in the form of Spotlight, Siri and Smart Search Field
    Google still have to paid the money (I believe they have a fix minimum payment. )
    But before your query send to Google, you will be more likely click on the recommendation from Spotlight. (Think about it, if you are searching "Walter White" and Spotlight direct you to the wiki/wikia page directly, why press the Search button to click to the first result for the same page? )

    I mean, after the MapGate by Scott Forstall, you really think Tim Cook will make the same mistake?
  • Reply 22 of 76
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    This is BIG. I would be sweating bad right now if I was giggle.

    DuckDuckGo
    Yahoo
    Bing

    They all SUCK.

    There's one of 2 things I'd like to see.
    Either:

    1) Charge Google a much larger sum where they can hardly make profit but don't lose marketshare and mindshare. At this point Google will oblige. Keep in mind this is realistic as many companies give up profit in order to stay relevant.

    Or

    2) Develop a new search engine with a new way of thinking. Search engines haven't changed since the 90's. Apple could develop something that would blow everyone away. Not DuckDuckgo, not applesearch, give it a simple name. LESS ads, better results and maybe integrate Watson.

    To me that 2nd option has been in the works for years already. Siri, Spotlight etc. Remember google betrayed Apple in 2008. You can bet Steve Jobs and Apple have been toying around with search for at least 7 years. They've been waiting for this contract to end. The most secretive product at Apple wouldn't be a car. It would have to be a search engine.

    "We have products in development that haven't even been rumored about."
  • Reply 23 of 76
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sog35 View Post

     

     

    or is it Google bots that are clicking on it?

     

    i mean seriously who clicks on those things.




    Can't tell if you're being serious or not.

     

    Real people click on ads, and purchase, or we'd not "give" Google tens of thousands of dollars each year.

     

    To Google we're just a small fry. They have advertisers whose daily ad spend equals our yearly spend.

  • Reply 24 of 76
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    Apple will renew the deal with Google. (Apple will get around 10% of those ad income, so free money)
    However, there's a catch.

    Apple will build their own search engine, in the form of Spotlight, Siri and Smart Search Field
    Google still have to paid the money (I believe they have a fix minimum payment. )
    But before your query send to Google, you will be more likely click on the recommendation from Spotlight. (Think about it, if you are searching "Walter White" and Spotlight direct you to the wiki/wikia page directly, why press the Search button to click to the first result for the same page? )

    I mean, after the MapGate by Scott Forstall, you really think Tim Cook will make the same mistake?

    If you read my post above, I was thinking Apple could do both in a way. But Apple would be better off focusing on itself.

    "MapGate" was mostly anti-apple hype. Either way it ended up hurting giggle.

    Even if Apples search engine sucked and managed to only grab %10 of google's search share, that's STILL %10 of their search profits GONE.
  • Reply 25 of 76
    afrodriafrodri Posts: 190member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sog35 View Post

     

     

    or is it Google bots that are clicking on it?

     

    i mean seriously who clicks on those things.


     

    Click-farms are a problem (I've seen estimates that say 10-20%), though I don't think Google is the one doing them, or at least not directly.

     

    I'm not sure which demographic are clicking on ads. I seldom do, but apparently a lot of people do click on them. Similarly, most TV commercials or print ads seem rather pointless, yet companies still pour money into those.  It could just be the way I tend to browse – if I want a specific product I'm more likely to go to a vendor and search there (e.g. if I want a shirt, I'll go to Amazon and use Amazon's search) while others might just plug it into Google's search and then jump directly to the product page from there. Heck, from Google Analytics, a surprising number of people seem to go to web pages by typing the title into Google's search every time rather than using the web address or a bookmark.

     

    One thing that Google (and others) allows is to track the correlation of who click on an ad vs. who clicks on an ad and then actually buys something. Presumably, enough people are clicking and buying that companies find it worthwhile to advertise. :shrug:

  • Reply 26 of 76
    waterrocketswaterrockets Posts: 1,231member

    It seems that Apple is about providing the best features possible. I don't see how they could honor that tradition not default to the best search engine.

  • Reply 27 of 76
    bigpicsbigpics Posts: 1,397member

    Full disclosure - I'm slightly pumping DuckDuckGo here, but still using Google more (out of habit and knowing some tricks) as I continue to evaluate it.....  ...but it's growing on me.

     

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by charlituna View Post



    As I understand it Duck Duck Go is more in line with Apple's mildly militant pro privacy stance so I expect to see it as the default. But Google, Bing and Yahoo will likely be in the choices



    I could also see perhaps Apple creating an aggregate search system. Sends the search to all four, strips out ads, known malware source aites etc and gives a list of all the hits using some kind of system to rank them based off how they rank in the origins sites or such. Could blend in some of the same tools as the current spotlight searches also

     

    DDG's been making headway in various arenas and glad to see a viable alternative search business model emerging, so getting closer to ready for prime time acceptance next to the "big engines." People can change default habits in large numbers over time - witness Safari, Chrome and FF vs IE, and Goog search being "down" to 75%.

     

    Duck's also got some cool/unique features beyond vanilla search (e.g., !bangs), but all those things tend to be ancillary usage drivers since they're used mostly by the geek class who are a minority.  And with so many features in the world of "so many apps/so many OSs/so many devices," even those who learn 'em tend to forget or not use 'em, so not true differentiators for the bulk of folk....

     

    ...One of the best reasons to use it, though - from the user side - is a "silent feature" or "unfeature" - the fact that search results are not personalized and based on your prior searches and clicks, so you're protected from getting lost in your own past info-consuming tendencies.



    (Which - delivering the same results for the same queries to all users - is what DDG calls avoiding "the filter bubble" - and is arguably as important as not collecting/saving/selling your search-related info - tho' no choice necessary since they do both.)



    (Still, once you arrive at a site from a search, of course, all the cross links there start sucking you back into filter bubbles - whether you're on a product site, a liberal/conservative/libertarian site, mainstream medicine or alt health site, Christian/Islamic/spiritual/atheist, etc. ad infinitum.  Oh well... ...but Duck Duck Go's a tool that recognizes the issue at least.)

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by gregnacu View Post

     

    I think making Duck Duck Go the default option would not be such a bad move.  I'd love to see Apple and DDG have a closer relationship.  Apple could even invest in DDG to help see them improve their product.  I like such a move more than the idea of Apple trying to become their own search engine.

     

    I think Google had a tactic where they would invest in a company under conditions that if they were going to be bought out by someone Google would be given the first right to acquire them instead.  Apple could do something like that.  Invest in DDG, keep them independent, but retain the first right to acquire them if Google or Microsoft or Facebook tried to acquire them. Win-win-win.


     

    Given the right recipe, apple can complement duck nicely, yes.

     

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mike1 View Post

     

    Does anybody really click ads (intentionally) that show up in a search result??? Just sayin'.


     

    For me (assuming I'm somewhat typical of "fairly aware" but not the "most determined not to be herded" searchers), ads on the right side, never.

     

    However, when you're shopping, it often feels like more work to get past the sponsored search results at the top of the Google results to find virtually the same non-sponsored link from the same vendor, e.g., Amazon, somewhere below.

     

    So sometimes I make the effort just to not give them the satisfaction, and other times "make the click of least resistance." 



    So, yeah. 

     

    And then there's all the less privacy concerned people out there.

  • Reply 28 of 76

    iSearch.

  • Reply 29 of 76

    I think Apple has already implemented their ultimate search plan, albeit in its very early stages: Spotlight. I think/hope that the ultimate goal is to continue to build up a huge and useful front end, that will negate the need (95% of the time) for the typical, unapealing back end list search that we are used to; for example, taking you directly to wikipedia, imdb, getty images, specific target website, etc.

     

    The internet is too messy for Apple to be responsible for the entire package; as long as there's still porn and bomb making instructions on the internet, I don't see that Apple will want to be responsible for the back end.

     

    Ideally, the back end would be DuckDuckGo, with an emphasis on privacy, of course. Any significant differences in quality between DDG and google could be made up for in the front end. Ideally, as a partner, Apple could then even help DDG clean things up (e.g. allocate resources to removing: bomb making instructions, terrorist propoganda (*ahem* google/youtube), child porn, etc.  

     

    This could be seen as a huge value add for the Apple ecosystem. If I was google, I'd be scared.

  • Reply 30 of 76
    evilutionevilution Posts: 1,399member

    With all of the companies that Apple have bought to increase the search ability in the app store, they must have enough talent to make ?search and make it awesome. Considering the advertising revenue available and Apple's standing as the most known company in the world, they'd make Billions a year doing nothing.

     

    With most things, Google had something good that worked well and made money, then they stopped bothering with it, same with maps.

    Only competition will make them pull their finger out and make it better.

  • Reply 31 of 76
    bigpicsbigpics Posts: 1,397member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by aduzik View Post

     

    I decided to try Bing on my iPhone about a year ago, and honestly, it works well enough (and has enough less garbage on the results page) that I haven't switched back. I think a lot of Google's search success is momentum at this point. I think it is realistic to think they would lose 50% of iOS users if Apple changes the default.


     

    It can't be entirely discounted that Apple still has something on the line here... ....the very (long-running) familiarity of Google as the search default. 

     

    "Bing" and "binging" aren't exactly common verbs yet (nor likely to ever become such), many of us can't even think of the word "Yahoo" without being traumatized by exposure to all of those horrible "yodeling" commercials from years past, and many find comfort in being presented splashes that they know and "get."



    Just try any search with B, Y, G and DDG, successively.  Yahoo wants you to check your ancient email account. Bing is hawking its stupid rewards program. Google's the fullest of ads and other gingerbread, but it's familiar.



    And DDG is clean and sparse.  So likely, IMO, to be the most appealing to those tired of Google.... ...but does offer fewer "resources" up front, e.g., G's "news, shopping, 'more' and search tools," Y's "local," etc.



    So those used to Google may feel vaguely ill at ease in its absence, and knowing that 75-90% of users never change any OS default settings, no, matter how easy, might make some more prone to feel comfy on Android with Google search and maps.



    I agree with others, though, that Spotlight and other tools/trends (e.g., resentment of Google's biz model where our eyeballs and selection presses become the info product they're peddling) are making this less important and that in a world where search is becoming another commodity, its search brand is carrying less and less clout. 



    So Google is likely to take a bigger net long-term hit than Apple if they're dropped.

  • Reply 32 of 76
    nofeernofeer Posts: 2,427member
    charlituna wrote: »
    As I understand it Duck Duck Go is more in line with Apple's mildly militant pro privacy stance so I expect to see it as the default. But Google, Bing and Yahoo will likely be in the choices

    Great idea seems doable
    Also spamsand idea of choosing Siri search engine

    I could also see perhaps Apple creating an aggregate search system. Sends the search to all four, strips out ads, known malware source aites etc and gives a list of all the hits using some kind of system to rank them based off how they rank in the origins sites or such. Could blend in some of the same tools as the current spotlight searches also

    Great idea and spamsand idea of letting us choose Siri search
  • Reply 33 of 76
    joshajosha Posts: 901member

    I switched all my default search to DuckDuckGo a few years ago.

    But some searches still require Google for best results.

    I avoid Yahoo and Bing, they are ugly.

  • Reply 34 of 76
    afrodri wrote: »
    Google AdWords setups offer pay-per-click or pay-per-impression. I think the default and most common is pay-per-click. Lots of people do click on them, hence Google's revenue.

    Ads are really all about branding and impressions... Advertisers may pay $0.10 for 1000 impressions, the price really varies. It's just like billboards and magazine ads, no one is clicking on those. It's brand recognition! And in the case of Ecommerce, they're reminding you that you looked at this item and don't forget to buy it.

    Granted it's not private... But the revenue also pays for a lot of content that is free on the internet, think ads before YouTube videos. The market will evolve to a freemium model where you can pay to opt-out of revenue generating ad impressions.

    For me, ads are fine but annoying, and can be blocked. But I would never use Gmail and share my personal data in that way.
  • Reply 35 of 76
    maestro64maestro64 Posts: 5,043member
    revenant wrote: »
    search engines are getting so much better that google's crown may be passed in a few years. i stopped using it a while back- i was tired of seeing the same dang advertisements every single time, or flooded with new ones all about the same friggen thing. just because i googled rolex watches does not mean i need to bombarded with links and images to sellers of the watch.

    But if you had google wallet and they could see your spending habits they would know you did not have enough money to buy a Rolex. With they piece of data they would have shown you ads for Rolex knock offs
  • Reply 36 of 76
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,926member
    If Y!, Bing or DDG offered similar cash that Google has/will, then Apple should consider them. Google will remain an option but not the default.
  • Reply 37 of 76
    maestro64maestro64 Posts: 5,043member
    UBS is correct if in fact Apple cuts that final cord with Google about half the people will switch back to google, however, i believe that will be short lived, until the next iOS and phone refresh and people could not be bother to switch back to google. I know when the whole map thing happen people loaded google maps but today, most people just default to Apple maps and do not bother with Google maps.

    Apple is slowly put walls between Apple users and Google to help protect their privacy. With that said, I inclined to think that Apple and Google resolved this difference last year when the agreed to stop suing each other. I know Google had to settle with Apple in order to sell Motorola to Lenovo, since they would not buy it with the pending issues going on with Motorola and Apple. Google may have asked for an extension on the search deal as part of agreeing to and further lawsuits. Who know the business world makes strange bed fellows.
  • Reply 38 of 76
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Google are fuckers but are still the best in this business. Apple would be stupid to not renew the deal.
  • Reply 39 of 76
    airnerdairnerd Posts: 693member
    As long as I can change it back to Google. I am not a fan of theirs, but after trying to use Yahoo via firefox for a while, I learned to appreciate google. REsults are much more effective on Google.
  • Reply 40 of 76
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    At least Google is aware that their business could disappear in short order, thus the panic moves buying into weather balloon based Internet, robotics companies, self-driving cars... These are all wild bets.

    Wild but not necessarily idiotic.
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