Court transcript reveals Google's 'sensitive' $1bn Apple payment to be the iPhone default search engine
Google is coughing up the big bucks to Apple to ensure its search bar remains on the iPhone.
A court transcript revealed that the search giant in 2014 paid Apple an estimated $1bn to ensure it remains the default browser on the company’s smartphones that hold a lucrative majority market share in many countries across the globe, according to Bloomberg.
The revelation emerged 14 January during one of the many hearings taking place as part of Oracle’s five year lawsuit which alleges Google used Java software, without payment; in the development of its Android operating system.
The transcript heard that “at one point in time the revenue share [between Apple and Google] was 34 percent," information both company's were keen to suppress.
Google then asked the judge that the sensitive financials were redacted: “Non -public financial data is highly sensitive, and public disclosure could have significant negative effects on Google’s business."
The same case revealed that Google has made $22bn in profit from it Android OS.
Elsewhere at the company, Google's recently appointed top advertising executive Sridhar Ramaswamy promised a crackdown on bad ad developers in the digital media space.