Google antitrust case is now in its 4th week, the U.S. Department of Justice accused Google Inc. of paying $10 billion a year for ensuring that it becomes the default search engine for Samsung and Apple devices.
Patrick Chang, a former executive who worked at Samsung’s venture capital arm Samsung Next, has testified in the latest court hearing that Google is blocking the addition of a new search engine to the Galaxy line of phones due to an agreement signed by both Samsung and Google.
Prior to Patrick Chang’s departure from Samsung, he was responsible for identifying innovative companies for Samsung to invest in. In the process, Patrick Chang tried to add an application called Branch to Samsung’s cell phones with the company’s executives.
A description of the application as follows, “This launcher provides you with enhanced application search capabilities so you can access the right application exactly when you need it.”
Alexander Austin, founder and former CEO of Branch Metrics, claims that the company had to give up some of its software features in order to meet Google’s requirements for striking deals with carriers and smartphone makers.
Austin said Branch would have to restrict search options in the app and not be web-based if it were to be available on the Samsung Mall.
Patrick Chang also testified that Samsung pays carriers, such as AT&T, an annual fee to ensure that devices cannot use Branch as a search engine.
