DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Google Inc. (GOOG) continued to be the most visited Web site in
June, with nearly 157 million U.S. visitors, according to comScore
Inc. (SCOR).
Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) was No. 2, with 154 million visitors, followed
by Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), with 127.4 million. The duo are
also-rans to Google for market share of Internet searches. Both
companies are launching new efforts in an attempt to reverse the
trend.
Facebook.com moved up two positions to No. 6, its highest
ranking yet as the social-networking site continues to attract new
fans.
Meanwhile, the release of Web browser Firefox 3.5, which
includes numerous new and improved features, pushed the Mozilla
Organization up 13 spots to No. 28.
Twitter.com, a fast-growing site that lets users broadcast short
messages to "followers," made its first appearance in comScore's
top 50 in June, ranking No. 46 with 20.1 million visitors. "It's
hard to believe that Twitter.com had fewer than a million visitors
in June 2008, and now attracts more than 20 million visitors a
month," said Jack Flanagan, executive vice president of comScore
Media Metrix.
Flanagan noted that travel Web sites gained the biggest
percentage of visitors last month as Americans began planning
summer vacations. Visitors to airline Web sites jumped 22% to 33.2
million, with Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) visitors growing 64% to
16.4 million.
Online travel agent sites increased 9% to 42.8 million, and
Expedia Inc. (EXPE) led the category, with 27 million. Orbitz
Worldwide Inc. (OWW) was next, up 10% to 12.5 million.
The total Internet audience was flat at about 193.9 million
visitors.
-By Kathy Shwiff, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2357;
Kathy.Shwiff@dowjones.com