Google Extends Its Web Search Lead

And the beat goes on.

ComScore released its July Web search engine rankings Thursday, which show Google (GOOG) increasing its lead, while Yahoo (YHOO) and Microsoft (MSFT) are slipping.

Google dominated the U.S. Web search market in July with 61.9 percent, up from 61.5 percent in June. Yahoo, meanwhile, saw its search market share fall from 20.9 to 20.5. Microsoft's searches also decreased, from 9.2 percent to 8.9.

The new numbers show a return to form for Google, which actually slipped slightly from May to June from 61.8 percent to 61.5 percent. During that period, Yahoo and Microsoft edged higher.

That appeared to be an aberration, however, because overall Google has been widening its lead for some time.

For an idea of the trend over the last year, check out comScore Web search market share numbers for July 2007, one year ago: Google, 55.2 percent. Yahoo, 23.5 percent. Microsoft, 12.3 percent.

In somewhat related news, Yahoo shares closed Thursday below where they were just prior to Microsoft's unsolicited bid ea this year, to $19.11.

If Yahoo shares continue to flounder, as Google extends its search lead, is it only a matter of time before new board member Carl Icahn gets antsy?

Comments

[GoogleDoubter:]

When does the Deptartment of Justice look into questions of monopoly? What market share does GOOG need to have to prompt an investigation? 65 %....no. 75%...closer! 80%...very close. 85% or more...yes!

Personally, I think Google search has earned every percentage of market share they receive.

But search still funds all other Google operations because they can't make profits on anything else.

2008 Aug 24 05:22 PM

[Josh Thompson:]

Google is the king of the hill identical to Microsoft DOS. If GOOG cannot branch into other areas, they will eventually be spoken of in the same tense as MS-DOS. This will take the unimaginable to happen, but unimaginable is what the future is.

2008 Aug 24 06:16 PM

[jerry w.:]

this just shows how powerfull goog.is. I still cant understand why goog. shares arent skyrocketing. When they come out with the next report watch out for a 100. increase. j.w.

2008 Aug 24 07:47 PM