Google nears 62 percent of searches in July

RESTON, Va.—Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc.'s share of the U.S. search market contracted slightly in July while market leader Google Inc.'s improved, according to estimates released by ComScore Inc. Thursday.

The total number of queries typed into search boxes by U.S. Web surfers rose 2 percent to 11.8 billion in July from the previous month.

Google was the only one of the top three search engines to benefit from the increase. Its U.S. search share rose to 61.9 percent from 61.5 percent in June.

No. 2 Yahoo's search share dipped to 20.5 percent from 20.9 percent. Microsoft, in third place, captured 8.9 percent of queries, down from 9.2 percent in June.

Searches through IAC/InterActiveCorp.'s Ask.com edged up to 4.5 percent from 4.3 percent. Time Warner Inc.'s AOL LLC snagged 4.2 percent of searches, up from 4.1 percent in June.

The ComScore report is based on the five major search engines, taking into account partner searches and cross-channel searches. It excludes searches for mapping, local directory and user-generated video sites.

The measures rely heavily on online recruitment techniques dismissed by more traditional pollsters, and the company was criticized several months ago for a separate report on paid search clicks, which relies on a similar panel as the data on search market share.

ComScore's data is closely watched by analysts and investors.