Microsoft drew the largest number of Web site visitors worldwide in December, a recurring accomplishment that makes the company's disappointing online ad business all the more disconcerting.

Close to 509 million unique visitors, ages 15 and up, went to Microsoft Web sites in December, comScore Networks said Wednesday. Google came in second with a little over 494 million, while Yahoo landed in third place with almost 477 million unique visitors.

Microsoft also led in March 2006, and its lead over Google was bigger. Microsoft had almost 539 million unique visitors to almost 496 million for Google. Third place went to Yahoo with little over 480 million.

However, the difference in online ad revenue between Microsoft and its two rivals is massive, a sign that, despite heavy investments in the past three years, Microsoft isn't close to matching their ability to monetize Web site traffic, especially Google's torrid growth in the search engine space.

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