Google (GOOG) Begins To Dominate Wireless Search

Telecom & Wireless

Published: September 15, 2008 7:02 pm

Last Updated: April 27, 2020 10:31 pm

With Google (GOOG) holding a 70% share of the PC-based online search market in the US and a similar amount in most EU countries, the best hope that Yahoo! (YHOO) and Microsoft (MSFT) have to catch up is in the emerging market of searching from handsets.

It appears that Google is opening a lead off the PC as recent figures show it well ahead of its competition in the wireless marketplace.

None of the companies pushing wireless search products can benefit without a sharp increase in the overall use of handsets to access results.

According to comScore, the number of people using mobile devices for search in the US rose 68% from June 2007 to June 2008. That brings the total for America to over 12.3 million users. The improvements in most EU countries were similar.

The devastating news for Yahoo! and Microsoft is that Google already has a sizable lead in mobile search, and there is no reason to believe that this will change. It appears that consumer’s preferences on the PC have been passed to their handset use.

In the US, Google’s share of mobile searches was 63% for the three months ending in June. Yahoo!’s was 34.6%. That leaves Microsoft with almost nothing.

The major search companies have been busy cutting deals with handset makers and cellular companies to have their products "pre-loaded" on wireless devices in the hopes of getting adoption. The plans do not appear to be working.

Consumers use the search engine they want, not the one they are given.

Douglas A. McIntyre

The Average American Is Losing Momentum On Their Savings Every Day (Sponsor)

If you’re like many Americans and keep your money ‘safe’ in a checking or savings account, think again. The average yield on a savings account is a paltry .4%¹ today. Checking accounts are even worse.

But there is good news. To win qualified customers, some accounts are paying more than 7x the national average. That’s an incredible way to keep your money safe and earn more at the same time. Our top pick for high yield savings accounts includes other benefits as well. You can earn up to 4.00% with a Checking & Savings Account today Sign up and get up to $300 with direct deposit. No account fees. FDIC Insured.

Click here to see how much more you could be earning on your savings today. It takes just a few minutes to open an account to make your money work for you.

Our top pick for high yield savings accounts includes other benefits as well. You can earn up to 4.00% with a Checking & Savings Account from Sofi. Sign up and get up to $300 with direct deposit. No account fees. FDIC Insured.

¹https://www.fdic.gov/national-rates-and-rate-caps