Theoretically. But if they're not willing to offer top dollar for iOS, they sure won't for Android. And anyway, if they value Android spots so much, they will b

Theoretically. But if they're not willing to offer top dollar for iOS, they sure won't for Android. And anyway, if they value Android spots so much, they will be able to bid in this auction and appear on the list. The list is randomized on each startup, so it doesn't matter whether Google bids more than Bing. The only thing that matters is who bids for fourth place and who bids for fifth. I sincerely doubt that anyone believes Google would fail to bid in the top four. TBH, I find it really interesting that people are complaining so much about this. It's actually a much more competition friendly approach, and less beneficial to Google, than what Apple does with iOS' search default. I guess it's a little different in that for iOS it is Apple aiding and abetting Google's monopoly, whereas with Android it seems like self-dealing. But I have yet to see a suggestion for something else to do that leads to a reasonable outcome.