Microsoft reportedly considered selling its Bing search engine to Apple in 2020, according to people with knowledge of the matter who spoke to The Wall Street Journal.
The discussions between Microsoft and Apple were in the early stages and did not lead to a deal. One of the reasons why the deal fell through is that Apple was reportedly not willing to pay the price that Microsoft was asking for Bing.
Another reason is that Apple may have been concerned about antitrust concerns. Apple is already facing antitrust scrutiny in Europe and the United States. Acquiring Bing would have given Apple even more control over the search market.
Despite the fact that the deal did not go through, it is interesting to consider what would have happened if Apple had acquired Bing.
The Benefits of an Apple-Bing Deal
There are a number of potential benefits of an Apple-Bing deal.
First, an Apple-Bing deal would have given Apple more control over the search experience on its devices. Apple currently uses Google as the default search engine on its devices. However, Apple has been trying to reduce its reliance on Google in recent years. Acquiring Bing would have given Apple a way to do this.
Second, an Apple-Bing deal would have given Bing a boost in market share. Bing is currently the second-largest search engine in the world, but it has a small market share compared to Google. Acquiring Bing would have given Apple a way to increase Bing’s market share.
Third, an Apple-Bing deal would have given Apple access to Bing’s technology. Bing has a number of innovative features, such as its visual search and its AI-powered translation service. Acquiring Bing would have given Apple access to these features and would have allowed Apple to integrate them into its own products and services.
The Drawbacks of an Apple-Bing Deal
There are also a number of potential drawbacks of an Apple-Bing deal.
First, an Apple-Bing deal would have raised antitrust concerns. Apple already controls a large share of the smartphone and tablet markets. Acquiring Bing would have given Apple even more control over the search market. This could have led to higher prices for consumers and less innovation.
Second, an Apple-Bing deal could have hurt the quality of Bing. Apple is known for its focus on quality and design. However, Microsoft has not been as successful in maintaining the quality of Bing. Acquiring Bing could have led to a decline in the quality of the search engine.
Third, an Apple-Bing deal could have hurt the privacy of users. Apple is known for its focus on privacy. However, Microsoft has not been as successful in protecting the privacy of its users. Acquiring Bing could have led to a decline in the privacy of users.
Conclusion
There are a number of potential benefits and drawbacks of an Apple-Bing deal. It is important to weigh these factors carefully before deciding whether or not such a deal would be a good thing.
Overall, it is interesting to consider what would have happened if Apple had acquired Bing. It is possible that such a deal would have benefited both Apple and Microsoft. However, it is also possible that such a deal would have been harmful to consumers and to the search market as a whole.
