How does that work? How does Google “host” searches? 70% of searches go to Google because 70% of people type in “google”. The other 30% open IE/Edge and use Bing to search for google. Are you suggesting that when someone types in “google.com” it redirect them?
Microsoft could easily outbid Google to be the primary search engine on iOS and they could pay carriers to make Bing the primary search engines on the Android phones they sell.
I don't think Google still permits Android phones to select a different default search. They used to, several Verizon phones used to ship with Bing as default, before Google locked it down via the MADA. (And this is true even of Android phones Microsoft sells, if they have the Play Store, which Microsoft's own Android apps depend on, they must follow MADA terms.)
They could on iOS, but it's likely outbidding Google would make Bing unprofitable. (Currently, it turns a profit, and has for years.) Satya Nadella doesn't seem to be a big fan of keeping products or services that don't make money on their own, hence his willingness to chop off entire arms of Microsoft's prior strategy.
Neither Firefox nor iOS are “competitors” for Google. Google’s main business is advertising and collecting data. Both Chrome and Android are means to that end. Google wants to be wherever the users are, whether that’s on Android, iOS, Chrome, or Firefox.
For years, Google made more money on iOS than Android even after Androids market share eclipsed iOS’s market share.
What in the world are you talking about? MS owns Windows the dominate desktop platform. Huge advantage. Yet Google won because their browser and search is so much better.
We in Earth would we penalize someone for creating a superior product?
How does that work? How does Google “host” searches? 70% of searches go to Google because 70% of people type in “google”. The other 30% open IE/Edge and use Bing to search for google. Are you suggesting that when someone types in “google.com” it redirect them?