The US Department of Justice has presented several witnesses to testify about how Google’s stranglehold on search has stifled innovation, particularly in the smartphone industry. On day three of the trial, Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, claimed that Google blocked his company from being the default search engine on Motorola phones, a move seen as anticompetitive.
However, it appears that Perplexity is now included with Motorola’s new flip phones, a surprise move in the smartphone market. Shevelenko likened Google’s mobile integration contracts to a “gun to your head,” stating that both Motorola and Perplexity were interested in partnering last year but couldn’t due to Google’s distribution contract.
Google has long required Android device makers to use its Assistant on their devices, but the launch of Gemini has added pressure. The company is pushing Gemini into every corner of its ecosystem, with some 2024 phones featuring it as the default assistant instead of Google Assistant. This move has left little room for Perplexity, as OEMs are unwilling to risk their revenue-sharing agreements.
Shevelenko noted that securing a default placement position is difficult due to Google’s omnipresence on phones, likening the process to a “jungle gym.” He claimed it took him 10-15 minutes to change the default assistant setting on a Motorola phone. While this may seem excessive, the option is actually located in two taps deep within the settings menu.
The antitrust trial continues to examine Google’s dominance in search and its impact on innovation and competition in the smartphone industry.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/04/perplexity-will-come-to-moto-phones-after-exec-testified-google-blocked-access