Google comes out top again
Google continues to remain the most highly regarded search engine, according to the latest research findings.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), an annual e-business report from the University of Michigan run by ForeSee Results, investigated customer satisfaction across a range of online properties and awarded each portal a mark out of 100.
Google stayed top of the pile with an overall score of 86, equalling last year’s rating.
Yahoo was second with 77, MSN Live Search came third with 75 and Ask Jeeves came fourth with 74 – meaning the top four properties all received identical grades to last year.
Although AOL improved its rating by one per cent to 70, it still remains in last place.
Unlike traditional consumer satisfaction ratings, the ACSI aims to provide more accurate approval ratings by taking into account both levels of satisfaction and the likelihood they will make repeat visits in the future.
An uphill battle for Bing
The survey, which assessed attitudes prior to Bing, illustrates the relative popularity of Microsoft’s earlier search engine MSN Live Search and market leader Google.
“Google is unquestionably king of search, so the only competition is for second place,” said Larry Freed, president and CEO of ForeSee Results.
“The research was done before Bing entered the market. But Google’s customers are pretty happy and have little reason to try something new, so Bing has a real uphill battle ahead.”
Microsoft claims that Bing, launched in the UK in June 2009, provides the most intuitive search results on the web.
It is reported to have set aside up to £61 million to promote its search engine as it bids to make an impression on Google’s dominant market position.
