Google's net profit rose in its fourth quarter despite the financial drag caused by its
Motorola Mobility unit.
Google earned $2.9 billion during the fourth quarter as compared to a net income of $2.7 billion at the same time last year.
The numbers are not comparable as Google Inc didn't own Motorola Mobility in 2011, having completed its $12.4 billion acquisition of the troubled handset maker eight months ago.
Google's revenue during the fourth quarter of 2011 surged 36 per cent from the previous year to $14.4 billion.
More advertising poured into Google during the holiday shopping season, fueling a moneymaking machine that has steadily churned out higher profits since the company went public in 2004. Google's fourth-quarter ad revenue totaled $12.1 billion, a 19 percent increase from the previous year.
(With AP inputs)
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