GoogleandAppleare the best of frenemies.
While the tech giants threatenthermonuclear warsover smartphone conflicts, they also quietly declare ceasefires forgood causes and big profits.
A prominent example of these truces is on the search battlefield.
A new lawsuit has shone the spotlight on this mutual-defense treaty.
The complaint claims that the companies agreed that Apple wouldnt develop its own search engine to compete with Googles.
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That sounds like wishful thinking.
If the search deal is a secret, its not exactly a well-kept one.
Apple has also acknowledged the deal with Google.
Their search engine is the best, Apple CEO Tim Cooktold Axios on HBOin 2018.
These arguments havent repelled criticism of the partnership, however.
The DOJ alleges that Google hasunlawfully maintained monopolies in search and search advertising.
Google, meanwhile, gets nearly half of its search traffic from Apple devices.
And by good, I of course mean profit.
Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he e(show all)Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse).
