The INTco.biz Search Engine FAQ
Which are the
Most Important
Search Engines
?
Without any doubt the most important search engine in recent years as been Google. This remains the case - however.............
In the past two years Yahoo, one of the best known names on the internet and originally a portal and a search directory, has bought up search engines and technologies such as Alta Vista, Overture and Inktomi. In 2004 Yahoo ceased displaying Google as their search results results and introduced their own search engine. Yahoo search continues to grow in popularity and is now said to take about 35% of searches.
The one missing player in the search engine game was - surprisingly - Bill Gates. Microsoft's MSN search, which is currently reported to take 15% of the search market, has been taking it's results from Inktomi/Yahoo but during 2004 had been testing it's own search technology. Early in 2005 MSN's own search results were being displayed in MSN's US/International search and then were added to regional MSN Search engines, including MSN Search UK.
In February 2005 the Lycos network, which has been taking it's results from Fast/All the Web, announced plans to switch search providers. With the take over of All the Web by Yahoo, Lycos has recently effectivly been displaying Yahoo search results. Their future plans are to take results from Ask Jeeves/Teoma, from which we can see a rising importance of the Ask Jeeves search technology.
With Google reportedly still taking around 40% of search results, it can be seen that there is little room left for the other "major" search names, so it is reasonable to expect a good degree of jostling from these major suppliers as they all vie for top place in the search engine game.
It is important also to note that there are relationships between search technologies - you can get a picture of the relationships between search engines on the ihelpyou.com Search Engine Partnership Chart, from which it can be seen that by having a listing in Google, Yahoo and MSN you will be represented in the largest percentage of searches.