Nielsen//NetRatings reported Q1 and Q2 2005 search engine growth for the top five search engines. The online research company found that AOL and Ask Jeeves rose 15 and 16 percent, respectively while Google and Yahoo! maintained a single digit growth.

Overall, Nielsen//NetRatings found search as a category saw a five percent increase in the number of searches conducted from Q1 to Q2.

"While growth in searches was modest among the 'Big Three' search engines, the fourth and fifth biggest search engines, AOL and Ask Jeeves, grew three times as fast," says Ken Cassar, director of strategic analysis, Nielsen//NetRatings.

The report ranks Google No. 1 with 47 percent of all searches conducted online.

"While it's far too early to say that Google needs to watch its back, a resurgent AOL makes the game a lot more interesting," adds Cassar.

Yahoo! received 22 percent and MSN 12 percent of all searches. AOL Search held five percent of all searches, and for the first time, My Way Search made its way into the top five rankings, garnering two percent of all searches.

"My Way Search is definitely an eye opener. The people have spoken and they want it delivered to them as they want it and when they want it. This signifies the growth of the on-demand universe," says Kevin Ryan, search editor, iMedia.

Nielsen//NetRatings suggests that My Way's unique anti-advertising model might attract some online searchers. "As online publishers enjoy the growing demand for advertising inventory and continue to create more ad slots within a finite number of web pages, this disaffected minority may become a force that the major players need to contend with," says Cassar.