Businessweek reports that Apple and Microsoft are currently in negotiations to replace Google as the default search engine on the iPhone with Microsoft's Bing.com. The talks have reportedly been underway for weeks.
Businessweek cites the increasing rivalry between Google and Apple as one of the reasons behind the discussions.
"Apple and Google know the other is their primary enemy," says one of the people, who's familiar with Apple's thinking. "Microsoft is now a pawn in that battle."
If the negotiations are successful, it could also mean that Bing could eventually replace Google as the default search engine for Apple's desktop version of Safari as well.
With Google's entry into the mobile phone business as well as Apple's recent acquisition of a mobile ad company, the two businesses have encroached on each other's territories. Apple has even been said to be working on distancing itself from Google's Maps data in the iPhone.
Even if Apple and Microsoft do come to an agreement, Businessweek notes that this may just be a time buying move on Apple's part who is reportedly working on their own "skunk works" search technology.
Tuesday August 25, 2026 8:39 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today unveiled a new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chip options, a new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip options, a new version of the Polishing Cloth with a lower price, and updated Magic Keyboards for Macs.
To learn more about these products, read our coverage below:
Apple Announces New Mac Mini With M6 and M5 Pro Chips and More
Apple Unveils New Mac Studio With M5 Max and M5...
Apple today quietly introduced updated Magic Keyboard models with revised U.S. English key labeling.
On the new keyboards, the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps are labeled with glyphs rather than edge text. On the full-size models with a numeric keypad, the change goes further, with the home, page up, page down, end, clear, and enter keys also swapping their text labels for...
Thursday August 27, 2026 7:58 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
The new Mac mini and Mac Studio models unveiled by Apple this week are the company's first new Macs announced in August since 2020.
It is extremely rare for Apple to announce new products of any kind in August, excluding smaller things like new color options and accessories.
As mentioned, Apple's last notable August product announcement was in 2020, when it updated the 27-inch iMac and a...
