Google reveals 69% increase in profits

Google has revealed a 69% increase in profits for the first quarter of the year with net income topping $1bn (£499m). The sharp increases have been attributed to strong advertising revenue.

The results come in the same week as the internet search engine acquired web advertising network Doubleclick for $3.1bn (£1.6bn). It is Google’s biggest deal.

Meanwhile, it is also relaunching the Froogle shopping service as Google Product Search. The internet search giant is also simplifying the interface to match the main site.

Froogle was launched in 2002 but has failed to take off, and Google removed the link to the site from its main page last year. Google Product Search is currently available in "beta" test phase.

It will remain a site for searching shopping listings but the most relevant listings in Product Search will also appear in the main site in a "one-box" area above the organic results.

Product search results are linked to the sites of retailers who participate in the service. The results are not advertisements, with participation free to retailers and service providers.

The service follows last week’s launch of Google Checkout online payment service, a rival to eBay’s Paypal.