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Apr 17, 2006

Number of Search Queries Gain in March, Google Leads the Way

RESTON, Va., April 17, 2006 - comScore Networks today released its monthly qSearch analysis of activity across competitive search engines.  In March 2006, Google gained in search market share versus year ago for the eighth consecutive month and maintained its status as market leader with 42.7 percent of searches conducted on its sites. Yahoo! remained in second place with 28.0 percent, while MSN ranked third with 13.2 percent.

Share of Online Searches by Engine March 2006 vs. March 2005 Total U.S. Home, Work and University Internet Users

Source: comScore qSearch

Mar-05

Mar-06

Point Change

Total Internet Population

100%

100%

N/A

Google Sites

36.4

42.7

6.3

Yahoo! Sites

30.6

28.0

-2.6

MSN-Microsoft Sites

16.5

13.2

-3.3

Time Warner Network

8.9

7.6

-1.4

Ask Jeeves/Ask Network

5.5

5.9

0.4

?          Americans conducted 6.4 billion searches online in March, up 10 percent from last month and 15 percent from last year.  The increase in search queries from the previous month marked the largest gain over the past twelve months.

?          Google Sites led the pack with 2.7 billion search queries performed, followed by Yahoo Sites (1.8 billion), MSN-Microsoft (849,000), Time-Warner Network (486,000), and Ask Jeeves/Ask Network (376,000).

?          The toolbar search market continues to be dominated by Google and Yahoo!, which combined for more than 95 percent of toolbar searches in March.   Google led the way with 48.9 percent, while Yahoo! captured 46.5 percent.

For more information on comScore qSearch, please email searchsolutions@comscore.com or call (650) 244-5412.

About comScore Networks

comScore Networks provides unparalleled insight into consumer behavior and attitudes. This capability is based on a massive, global cross-section of more than 2 million consumers who have given comScore explicit permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that captures and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Through its proprietary technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of behavior and attitudes.  comScore consultants apply this deep knowledge of customers and competitors to help clients design powerful marketing strategies and tactics that deliver superior ROI.  comScore services are used by global leaders such as AOL,  Yahoo!, Verizon, Best Buy, The Newspaper Association of America, Tribune Interactive, ESPN, Fox Sports, Nestlé, MBNA, Universal McCann, the United States Postal Service, Merck and Expedia.  For more information, please visit www.comscore.com.


Contact:
Andrew Lipsman
comScore Networks
(312) 775-6510
press@comscore.com