Apple continues to distance itself from Google

Apple has spent a great deal of time distancing itself from Google ever since its erstwhile partner launched Android back in 2008. Google Maps and YouTube haven’t been bundled as default apps on iPhones or iPads for years, and rumors keep swirling that Apple will kill its partnership with Google as a default search engine in Safari on both iOS and OS X. But now? Now it looks like Apple might finally pull the trigger, ending all of its Google partnerships for good.

The Safari browser for both iOS and Mac could have a new default search partner as soon as next year, as Apple’s current deal with Google is reportedly set to expire in early 2015. The most likely replacement candidates — Yahoo and Microsoft — have already spoken with Apple’s Eddy Cue about replacing Google, according to Amir Efrati of The Information. It was said that Cue’s decision is “likely to be based on the quality of the product as much as the potential money made from search ads.” Apple already replaced Google in Siri with the launch of iOS 7 in 2013. Since then, default search results have come from Microsoft’s Bing, though users can audibly request the virtual personal assistant to “search Google” if they so choose. As for Yahoo, CEO Marissa Mayer publicly stated earlier this year that she wants Apple to ditch Google as the default iOS search engine. She recently successfully negotiated a deal with Mozilla to make Yahoo the default provider in its Firefox browser.