Microsoft struggles to keep pace with Google

New Delhi, Apr 18: Microsoft today said it is upgrading its search engine MSN to keep pace with the increasing popularity of Google, which reported a 42.7 per cent market share in March 2006 as against MSNs 13.2 per cent.

''Google is on a honeymoon period. Every company has its share in the limelight,'' Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd Chairman Ravi Venkatesan told sources here.

''Right now everything Google seems to be doing is making headlines. Our MSN site, which entails the personal involvement of Bill Gates, is constantly being upgraded and offers a a variety of new services, and we looking to increase the traffic on our site,'' he added.

Microsoft Corporation Business Division President Jeff Raikes however felt that Google was yet to prove itself.

''It has yet to do anything significant,'' he retorted and added ''95 per cent of Google's business comes from its search engine.'' He was in the capital to inaugurate 18 information worker productivity solutions developed by Microsoft's local ISV partners for the Indian market.

Google enjoys a lion's share of 42.7 per cent of the search engine market share as on March 2006, a 6.3 per cent increase as against last year.

MSN reported a 3.3 per cent drop from last year at 13.2 for the same period, while Yahoo reported a 28 per cent share -- a drop of 2.6 per cent as against last year.

UNI