Google Threatens Yahoo's Throne
Search engine supremacy challenged, especially as Yahoo explores other Web ventures, study says.
Tom Krazit, IDG News Service
Search-engine technologies were among the first services to appear on the Internet, and their popularity continues today--with Yahoo a longstanding leader. But Google's site is quickly closing in.
Of all search referrals worldwide, 36.35 percent come from Yahoo, while Google trails close behind with 31.87 percent, according to figures from market researcher WebSideStory. The firm released the results of a tracking study by its StatMarket division Tuesday.
Microsoft's MSN network placed third with 12.73 percent of worldwide search referrals.
StatMarket defined search referrals as "the percentage of daily Internet users that arrive at a Web page via a particular search site." The study data was gathered from the 125,000 client sites that use the Hitbox Web analysis services from WebSideStory, which attract 50 million daily Internet users, said a WebSideStory spokesperson. The company used cookies--small software programs stored on a user's computer--and tags in a client Web site's code to gather the search referral data, she said.
Diverging Paths
Google is one of the few search engines that focuses just on search technology, unlike Yahoo and MSN, which feature broad categories of services and features. Google also provides the back-end technology for searches conducted through Yahoo and Netscape.com, although only searches originating from Google's site are included in WebSideStory's statistics.
While Yahoo's search engine numbers are declining, the company does enjoy a leading presence in several Internet categories, including finance, music, and personal Web page services. Despite the strength of its brand, the company has struggled with sustaining profitability and now charges fees for services that were previously free, including a premium search service.
The two companies are headed in different directions, according to WebSideStory: Search engine referrals from Google have risen from 1 percent in June of 2000 to the current level, while Yahoo's numbers have dropped from 46 percent of all referrals in the same time frame.
Perfect Print Solutions
Go Wireless on Printing
- Great year-end deals

for small business! -
Get 24/7 live remote AT&T Tech Support 360* service along with select Lenovo* PCs (with Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors) and save up to 200!
-
HP EliteBook* 6930p Notebook with Intel® vPro™ technology and a free HP Basic Docking Station - $641 instant savings!
- *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. ©2009 Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, vPro and Core trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries. All rights reserved.
Dell End of Year Deals
-
Ring in the New Year with Huge Deals on Dell Computers
Up to 30% Popular Dell Laptops, up to 25% off Popular Dell Desktops. Sales ends 12/31 5AM EST.
People who read this also read:
Best Prices on Laptops
MacBook NotebookPrice: $954.99
Compaq Presario CQ61Z Notebook - CustomizablePrice: $399.99
G71-340US NotebookPrice: $740.13
Pavilion dv4-1540us NotebookPrice: $679.99
13.3" MacBook Pro NotebookPrice: $1149.00
Studio 15 NotebookPrice: $749.98
- 15 Minutes to a Secure Business Get the Secure in 15 toolkit starting with the "15 Minutes Month-at-a-Glance" calendar. McAfee will send you additional tools and tricks to stay protected around the clock.
- A Buyer's Guide to Data Protection Implementing data protection products and processes can be daunting. Make the right decisions by exploring what is available and what makes sense for your organization. Use this simple guide to evaluate different vendor offerings.
Cameras
Camcorders
Cell Phones
Components
Desktops
HDTV
Home Theater
GPS
Laptops
Monitors
MP3 Players
Networking &
Printers
Storage




