Google still tops, but Bing inches ahead in search market

Microsoft in recent months has slowly boosted its share of the search business, but still remains far behind a so-far unbeatable foe in its battle with Google.

Hitwise, an online traffic monitor, reports that Google last month remained firmly at the head of the search pack while its rival's well regarded Microsoft Bing product gradually picks up a little traction. Google held a 70.95 percent share of the search market in February, according to Hitwise. In recent months Google has maintained its wide lead with search market share totals ranging from a low of 70.60 percent last October to a high of 72.25 percent in December. Microsoft Bing, which held its third place spot behind Google and new partner Yahoo last month, has been moving in the right direction in recent months, rising from 8.92 percent of the search market in December to 9.37 percent in January and improving again to 9.70 percent last month.