According to comScore, Google and Yahoo! are the leaders in local search. ComScore defines a local search as: "searches conducted by consumers on the local or directory (Yellow Pages) sections of leading search sites, and other searches identified as having local intent."

The numbers aren't suprising but based on how poor search engines local results are it is amazing that customers keep coming back. This speaks to the power of the Google and Yahoo! brand when it comes to searching on the internet.


Share of Local Searches by Site
July 2006
Total U.S. Home, Work and University Locations
Source: comScore qSearch

Total Local Searches
Total Internet Population 100%
Google Sites 29.8%
Yahoo! Sites 29.2%
Microsoft Sites 12.3%
Time Warner Network 7.1%
Verizon Communications 6.6%
YellowPages.com 3.9%
Ask Network 2.7%
Local.com 1.9%
InfoSpace Network 1.9%
DexOnline.com 1.4%
All Other 3.2%

Microsoft has released the first beta of its new Web design tool that will compete with Adobe Dreamweaver. The program is part of Microsoft's forthcoming Expression lineup, which also includes a graphical design tool and an interface designer.

Expression Web Beta 1 is the second public preview of the tool following a Community Technology Preview issued in May. Features of the application include the ability to build sophisticated CSS-based layouts, standards compliance and built-in support for ASP.NET 2.0 server technology.