Google Mobile Search Defaults You are the strategy leaders assigned to make sure Google retains the search defaults on most mobile devices. Your team was convened when senior Google leaders were alarmed to lose the deal to power Apple iPhone search: Apple’s Siri now uses Bing. Your task is to make sure the myriad Android devices keep Google as default search.
You believe Google Search is better than Bing Search and any competitor. But Bing is willing to pay smartphone manufacturers and carriers to make Bing the default. In fact, Microsoft seems willing to pay quite a bit to make Bing the default, and you have been asked to identify a strategy to keep Google the default without paying to outbid Microsoft (or any other competitor that might come along). It goes without saying that Google could outbid Microsoft, but Google would view that as a failure – an undesired cost that, historically, has not been necessary.
Can you tap any distinctive Google resources to help assure that Google Search stays the default on most Android mobile devices? It goes without saying that you will have access to Google’s technical expertise and brand (though not to funding to pay carriers or device manufacturers). (This example is based on true facts. That said, this example makes inferences as to Google’s motivations and constraints, information Google has not had reason to reveal to the public.)