Internet search engine Google has reported a large rise in quarterly profits.
The company said net income in the third quarter surged 26% to $US2.73 billion, up from $US2.17 billion in the same period last year.
Google, which faces increasing competition from social networking giant Facebook, says it has signed up more than 40 million users for its recently launched Google+ social network.
The BBC reports that profits were well ahead of market expectations.
As well as generating money through advertising based on search, Google also makes the popular Android mobile phone operating system.
