ComScore: Microsoft US search share rose in June

ComScore's June search report concluded that of a total of 11.5 billion searches conducted in the U.S. during the month, 61.5 percent were conducted on Google sites, compared with 61.8 percent in May.

The report showed 20.9 percent of U.S. searches were on Yahoo sites, compared with 20.4 percent in May.

Microsoft sites captured 9.2 percent of U.S. searches, compared with 8.5 percent in April.

Searches through IAC/InterActiveCorp.'s Ask.com declined to 4.3 percent from 4.5 percent.

Searches through Time Warner Inc.'s AOL LLC declined to 4.1 percent of searches from 4.5 percent in May.

The search report is based on the five major search engines, taking into account partner searches and cross-channel searches. It excludes searches for mapping, local directory and user-generated video sites.

The measures rely heavily on online recruitment techniques dismissed by more traditional pollsters. ComScore's data is closely watched by analysts and investors, but the company was criticized several months ago for a separate report on paid search clicks, which relies on a similar panel as the data on search market share.