Google Extends Web Search Lead

Sam Gustin says: And the beat goes on.

ComScore released its July Web search engine rankings Thursday, which show Google increasing its lead, while Yahoo and Microsoft 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 yesterday 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?