December “Explicit” Search Numbers: Bing Now Ahead Of Yahoo

Last night I posted comScore December search market share numbers, based on a financial analyst report (one of several that came out yesterday or early this morning). The report incorrectly presented the search share numbers as follows.

Those figures made it appear that Google had gained share at Bing’s expense. It was Yahoo that lost share, however. Below are the official comScore “explicit core search” numbers, released earlier today:

I was told by earlier today that the error was comScore’s. However comScore says that the error came from the third party that published the numbers yesterday. The more expansive “total core search” data (with slideshows) still shows Yahoo ahead of Bing.

The numbers above don’t include mobile search query volumes, which are now as much as 20 percent (or more) in some categories and growing rapidly. Below are StatCounter data reflecting mobile (browser) search market share in the US.

Source: StatCounter

Google is much more dominant in mobile than on the PC (in terms of browser-based queries). However there’s considerable “search” volume that goes through smartphone apps that isn’t being captured in the aggregate by comScore or anyone else for that matter.

Recently comScore reported that for the first time more people are using apps than the mobile browser.