World's most popular internet search engine Google on Thursday posted better-than-expected revenues of $9.72 billion for third quarter, 33 per cent up from the corresponding quarter of the last year.

Net income jumped year-on-year from $2.17 billion to settle $2.73 billion, representing an increase of around 26 per cent.

Per share earnings, climbed from $6.72-a-share in the third quarter of 2010 to $8.33-a-share in the recent quarter.

Sites owned by Google generated revenues of around $7 billion, which accounts for 69 per cent of total revenues in the third quarter.

The internet search giant said that revenues were calculated consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, without subtracting traffic acquisition costs and the fraction of revenues shared with the company's partners.

Google chief executive Larry Page also claimed that the company's new social network Google+ has gained more than 40 million users worldwide.

Speaking on the topic, Mr. Page said, "People are flocking to Google+ at an incredible date and we are just getting started."

Google+ is advancing fast, but it is still far behind Facebook, which has as many as 8 million users around the globe.