Google launches real-time search

Google has increased competition in the search marketing industry with the launch of its real-time search functionality, offering users access to up to the second information.

The search giant says it will draw real-time data from over a billion pages on the web.

The new feature will also include updates from Twitter and the social networks of MySpace and Facebook.

It comes just days after Yahoo! announced a partnership with Facebook to display user activity details on the social networking site and a month after Microsoft’s offering Bing promised integration with Twitter.

Google fellow, Amit Singhal, says:  “Information is being created at a pace I have never seen before and in this environment, seconds matter. There is so much information being generated out there that getting you relevant information is the key to the success of a product like this. It’s all about relevance, relevance, relevance.”

Updates from Twitter will be included right away, while those from Facebook and MySpace are not expected to be integrated into results until the new year. The real-time stream of data will be shown within Google’s normal results page.

The feature will also be available on smart phones, such as the iPhone and those running Google’s Android operating system.

Competition in the search market is expected to be stiff after Microsoft and Yahoo completed their deal to combine forces in Bing from next year yesterday.

Google has around 65% of the search market worldwide while Microsoft’s commands nearly 30%.