But Bings early gain is no predictor of future success. After all, the last time that happened, Microsoft had resorted to paying people to use Bings predecessor, known as Live Search.

Bing went live June 3, though some people had access earlier. According to a report Tuesday from research group comScore Inc., Microsoft snagged 11.1 percent of U.S. searches from June 2 to June 6. A week earlier, its share was 9.1 percent.

That still leaves Microsoft a distant third behind Google Inc., which was used for more than 60 percent of searches in April, and Yahoo Inc., which topped 20 percent. ComScore did not release more recent figures for those companies.

Search traffic is key because advertisers who place pitches alongside search results will pay more to reach a larger audience. This is the key to Googles profits, while Microsofts online business is losing money.

Microsoft has tried several tactics to narrow the gap with Google, including the drawn-out but unsuccessful attempt to buy Yahoo.

In June 2007, Microsoft launched the “Live Search Club,” a Web site where people could play games, rack up points and redeem them for prizes. Every move in an anagram game or a crossword puzzle would kick off a search on Microsofts site.

That month, Microsofts U.S. search share jumped to 12.2 percent, from 9.5 percent in May 2007, according to comScore. But by October 2007 it had fallen below 10 percent. And it remained there until Bings heavily promoted launch last week.

Microsoft had no comment on the new analysis from comScore.

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