Guess who might be plotting a comeback? Yahoo, yes that Yahoo, has apparently raised its hand, signaling it's interested in buying Google's Chrome browser if the ongoing antitrust drama forces Google to sell it off.
This little tidbit dropped during the Department of Justice's attempt to figure out how to rein in Google's massive search monopoly. It adds a spicy new angle to a legal fight that could seriously shake up the tech world. And get this: Yahoo hasn't just been watching; they've been quietly tinkering with their own browser prototype since last summer.
In case you haven't been following these developments, Google lost a big round in court, with a judge basically saying that "Yes, you've got a search monopoly, and you didn't play fair." Now, the DOJ is suggesting remedies, and one of the big ones is making Google sell Chrome.
Why? Because Chrome owns the browser market – we're talking around two-thirds of all users globally, leaving rivals like Apple's Safari (big on iPhones, maybe 18% overall) and Microsoft's Edge (trying hard on desktop, about 5% overall) in the dust. Because of this, the DOJ argues that Chrome is a key way Google keeps everyone locked into its search engine. In fact, Yahoo's own Search boss, Brian Provost, basically confirmed this. He testified that something like 60% of searches happen right in the browser bar. This means that owning the browser is owning the starting point.
Yahoo was in its heyday between 1996 and 2009. | Image credit — Wikipedia
That said, Yahoo isn't the only one smelling opportunity, though. AI companies like OpenAI and Perplexity have also hinted they'd be interested buyers if Chrome goes up for sale. OpenAI dreams of an "AI-first browser," while Perplexity seems keen, despite also arguing maybe Google shouldn't be forced to sell. Even the DuckDuckGo CEO chimed in, guessing Chrome could fetch a cool $50 billion – though probably too rich for their blood.
However, for Yahoo, this isn't just wishful thinking. Provost said they've been building a prototype browser for months and talking to companies about buying one. Getting Chrome, he figures, could boost Yahoo's tiny 3% search market share into double digits.
Provost thinks they could swing the multi-billion dollar price tag thanks to their owner, Apollo Global Management. If that name sounds familiar to you, there's probably a good reason for it. Remember Netscape? The browser that was crushed by Microsoft once upon a time when yet another massive antitrust case came about? Yes, Apollo owns it. History really does like to repeat itself, doesn't it? This is getting very interesting, indeed.
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Johanna Romero is a Senior News Writer at PhoneArena, covering mobile technology news across Android, iOS, wearables, and the Google ecosystem she knows best. Drawing on 15 years in IT and tech support from 2007 to 2022, she brings a user-friendly eye for the practical features and lesser-known tricks readers care about. Google named her an official #TeamPixel member in 2022, and she also reviews the latest devices on her YouTube channel, JoJo the Techie.
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