Google+ goes past 40-million user mark

'Google+' has gone past the 40 million users mark in the competitive social networking market.

Following its launch in June 2011, the online social networking service from Google, became available to the public on 20 September, and since then has gained popularity in a comparatively shorter span than its competitor Facebook Inc.
 
Facebook, founded in 2004, took three years to make it to the 25- million users mark and crossed the 50 million active users mark in October, 2007.

The fast growth in its popularity has encouraged Google to introduce trial services available to its users as a permanent networking website.
 
According to Google's chief executive, Larry Page who made the announcement of the company's latest quarterly earnings, the company's Google Plus offering was open to everyone and it had just passed the 40 million user mark.
 
He said people were flocking into Google Plus at an incredible rate and it was just getting started.

Google came out with its Google+ venture to take away a handsome share from the Facebook dominated moneymaking social networking space.

During the quarter, Google has reported a 26-per cent surge in its net income to $2.73 billion in July-September 2011, with vigorous support from advertising.
 
Google reported a revenue of  $9.72 billion for the quarter ended 30 September 2011, a 33 per cent increase over $7.28 billion in the same period last year.

Analysts say given the figures, it would be only a matter of time for Google to overtake Mark Zuckerberg-led Facebook, which was founded in 2004 and now boasts an 800 million user community across the globe.