Google Inc. (GOOGL) reported earnings of $4.21 billion, or $6.02 a share, up 17% from a profit of $3.59 billion, or $5.2 a share, from the same period a year ago. On an adjusted basis, the company earned $7.50 a share, missing analysts' expectations of $7.90 a share by 5%. Revenue grew from $17.26 billion to $20.26 billion over the same time period; analysts surveyed by Zacks expected revenue of $16.51 billion.

Former Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt will appear before the Senate Judiciary anti-trust committee which is investigating the search engine firms for alleged abuse of power

Just because everyone's going to Google+ (or are they?) doesn't mean you should too. Here's when it's really time to leave your social networks

Search engine company Google will launch a new social networking service in an apparent bid to compete with Facebook

With the economy in a state of slow recovery and an influx of recent grads in the job market, many Americans are searching for work. Among the many career sites available online, Google Search is a key resource for job seekers

When Brittany Laughlin needed to fly from Chicago to San Francisco last month, she tried something new. Instead of visiting an online travel agency or an airline website, she headed over to Google Flight Search, the newest and most controversial travel site to launch since Orbitz opened its doors a decade ago

Smartphones running on Android operating system outsold Apple's iPhone in the second quarter of 2011. The competition for consumer smartphone loyalty is not only between buyers of the devices but also among app developers who now are also designing apps for the more popular Android

The online search giant took aim at Facebook when it launched Google+, a social network that combines old services (Google Profiles, Google Buzz, etc.) with new. But is Google+ strictly for consumers, or can its applications benefit businesses too?

Chances are part of your head is already in the clouds: Are you on Facebook? Have you tried out Google Docs? Do you watch movies on Netflix? Then, you've used a cloud-based service; you just didn't realize it.

Google will pay a $500 million fine to settle government charges the company displayed illegal ads online in the United States for products for Canadian pharmacies

Google Inc. has inked a deal that would have the Internet technology giant acquire Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. for nearly $12.5 billion in cash. The acquisition would make valuable intellectual property maker Google more competitive in the mobile-computing market

Google's much-hyped Chrome OS notebook is just a few months away, promising to deliver a lean, minimalist approach to mobile computing. Fast startup time, long battery life thanks to lower power consumption, and a heavy emphasis on cloud computing add up to plenty of interest from businesses of all sizes. But will this new operating system mean fewer security headaches?

Google's future success depends on not only fending off competition in global search, but in introducing profitable new lines of business. It is a stretch to expect the same dramatic results it has enjoyed in its primary business. Some recent events reflect the competitive landscape