Google isn’t exactly shaking in its boots just yet, but Microsoft’s Bing search engine is definitely gaining share, according to Web analytics firm comScore. Datamation takes a gander at the latest market share figures and explains what Microsoft’s surge—and Yahoo’s continued descent—means for the search market going forward.
Microsoft’s Bing search engine picked up more steam in January, but can the company keep it up?
According to Web analytics firm comScore (NASDAQ: SCOR), Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Bing broke through to 11 percent of U.S. searches last month.
The tracking firm is set to release its January figures Wednesday, however, one of the firm’s clients provided the basic numbers to InternetNews.com on Tuesday afternoon.
This is the eighth consecutive month that Microsoft Bing has gained ground since its launch in early June, by comScore’s methodology. In January, Bing hit 11.3 percent—up from 10.7 percent in December.
Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO), in contrast, had its 12th straight decline, slipping 0.3 percent since December to 17 percent of U.S. searches.
Meanwhile, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) also lost a little of its dominant market share. In January, Google dropped from 65.7 percent in December to 65.4 percent, also a loss of 0.3 percent.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has said that, after lackluster attempts to become a major player in search in the past, this time he intends for his company to be successful vis-à-vis Google, although he has not specified what that means.