There are some reports going around that Samsung might switch from using Google as the default search engine on their devices to using Bing instead.
But it’s not a sure thing yet, and even if Samsung wants to make the change, they might not be able to do it in the United States because of a legal agreement they have with Google.
This agreement says that all Android device makers have to include Google Search as the default search engine on their devices.
Some companies, like Huawei, won’t agree to the MADA agreement, which means they can’t access Google Play Store or use Android on their smartphones.
Andreas Proschofsky, an editor at Der Standard, explained this on Twitter.
Why Samsung Can’t Drop Google Search
According to Proschofsky, the majority of countries mandate that Google Search be set as the default search engine, as specified in the MADA.
It’s breathtaking how many news sites, based on original reporting by the @nytimes, have now reported on Samsung pondering to drop Google as a a default search engine and not a *single* one of them asking the question if this would even be possible. It’s not. 🧵
— Andreas Proschofsky (@suka_hiroaki) April 17, 2023
Proschofsky’s thread continues:
“Android OEMs have to sign a thing called “Mobile Application Distribution Agreement” (MADA) if they want to get a license to use the Play Store and other Google apps. This includes a bunch of rules which includes – in most countries – setting Google Search as default.
If you don’t do that, you simply won’t get the Play Store and other Google apps. You might like this or not. Or even find this highly problematic. But those are Googles standing rules in return for giving Android and its services away for free.
So if Samsung would switch to Bing that would mean: no Play Store, no Gmail, no Maps, no you name it. So basically going the Huawei route. I doubt that Samsung wants to do that.
Now about that “most” countries reference: In Europe and India things are a bit different as regulators have struck down that default search requirement. But that also means that Samsung “switching” to Bing wouldn’t amount to much.
In all those countries users are already presented with a mandatory search engine choice screen during setup of Android devices. So there simply is no default to switch to anymore.
So where is that rumor coming from? It could be a simple misunderstanding. It could be Samsung trying to do leak PR to get a better revenue sharing deal from Google. And there are definitely OTHER areas where Samsung could put pressure on Google. No doubt.
But all of that is just speculation, nothing else. What’s not speculation are the licensing terms for Android OEMs. So don’t hold you breath for Bing being the default search on Samsung devices anytime soon.”
What Else Is In Google’s MADA Agreement?
Google’s MADA agreement lays out a bunch of rules that phone manufacturers who use the Android operating system have to follow. These rules are pretty strict, and some of the most important ones are:
Here are some simpler ways to understand each statement:
- If a company wants to sell devices that use Google’s Android operating system, they must include all of Google’s apps on the device before selling it (MADA section 2.1).
- The company making the phone needs to install all of the Google apps that are allowed in the area where the phone will be sold on each device (MADA section 3.4(1)).
- The phone manufacturer needs to make sure that the Google Search and Google Play icons are easily accessible on the home screen. All other Google apps should be easy to find too (MADA Section 3.4(2)-(3)).
- The phone manufacturer needs to set Google Search as the default search engine for any search bar on the device (MADA Section 3.4(4)).
- The phone must have Google’s Network Location Provider service installed and set as the default option for location services (MADA Section 3.8(c)).
Summing Up…
It’s unlikely that Samsung will stop using Google as the default search engine on their Android devices in the US, because of the current rules in place. These rules, called the Google MADA, make sure that most Android devices use Google Search as the main search engine.
However, in places like Europe and India, the rules are different, so Samsung might make a switch there. But even if they do, it’s not expected to have a big effect on Google’s popularity.
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