Some Nokia Lumia 930 and 630 versions don't allow users to set Google as default search engine

While Windows Phone isn’t known for being the most open mobile platform around, WP devices usually provide the option of setting Google as the default search engine in Internet Explorer. However, The Verge discovered that some Nokia Lumia 930 and Lumia 630 units do not offer said option. Specifically, unlocked Lumia 930 and 630 models sold in the UK don’t come with the option enabled - thus, users are forced to use Microsoft’s Bing as the default search engine no matter what.

The issue (if we may call it like that) seems to be restricted to the Lumia 930 and Lumia 630, both of which are brand new handsets that run Windows Phone 8.1. Some users who aren’t based in the UK report that they have the option enabled anyway, while older devices that are currently being updated to WP 8.1 should not encounter this problem at all.

Microsoft has yet to provide an official statement on the matter. Perhaps the company is just looking to promote Bing in a more aggressive manner. We’ll let you know if we hear new details on this.

P.S.: Android handsets allow users to change the default search engine (from Google's) to Bing, Yahoo, or Ask.

sources: The Verge, Tom Warren (Twitter)