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Rumor: Apple Cooking Up its Own Search Engine

by , 10:45 AM EST, November 13th, 2008

Apple may be looking to build its own Internet search technology if rumors circulating around the Web prove to be true. Such a move could put the company at odds with Google if it chose to push its own search engine on Safari users.

According to TechCrunch, the rumors about Apple's search engine efforts are coming from multiple sources that it called "thin."

There haven't been any reports, however, of Apple hunting for coders to build a search engine, leading to some speculation that Apple isn't looking to make its own search service. Instead, it may be working on designing its own front end for Google's dominant search engine. Such a move would let Apple keep its strong relationship with Google intact while controlling the user experience -- something Apple attempts to do with all of its products.

While there aren't any rumors supporting the idea yet, Apple could also consider buying its way into the Internet search market by purchasing Yahoo! now that Microsoft has walked away from its own buyout attempt. A Yahoo! deal would give Apple the technology it needs to jump into the search engine game, but could potentially hurt its relationship with Google -- something that Apple isn't likely to want.

Apple doesn't comment on rumors and speculation, so for now the odds are slim that this rumor will get confirmed or denied any time soon.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:houltmac Posts: 264 Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Subject:

This rumour seems very unlikely to come true, to me at least. I can't see a reason why Apple would want into such a market. Obviously Google are giants there, and competing with them seems to be suicide, changing people's habbits is even harder. That's not to mention the breakdown in the relationship and even Apple's own board of directors.

Then you have the statements that Steve Jobs has made over the past few years regarding how he wishes Apple had learned to partner with other companies better and earlier than they did. He also stated that he while Apple can't do the background service for a maps application, they can do a really nice front-end. He implies that letting third parties provide back end support while Apple creates the desktop experience for it is the way he would like to progress.

Obviously MobileMe is a good example that it's not a bad idea.

I think it's far more likely that Apple would write some kind of fornt-end to this kind of thing, but I still fail to see how much more you need than the search bar in Safari (and every other browser)... Perhaps I am missing something?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: I agree

Most likely it's something they are building into the OS, either for the Mac or the iPhone. That always seems to end up being the case with rumors like these.

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