According to a survey conducted by the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Internet users in the US are more than satisfied with the Internet search options available to them. The index, the University of Michigan's familiar gauge of consumer satisfaction, revealed that Google holds the top spot among Internet search engines and portals.

The survey, which was conducted earlier this year and is scheduled for release on Tuesday, ever since Google's 2002 inclusion in the yearly study, the popular search engine has topped the ranking charts in seven of eight years!

Not for nothing do experts opine that most Internet users have what can be called a "Google habit" - which not only keeps them 'addicted' to Google, but also helps Google retain its position as the most popular Internet search engine!

Out of a possible 100 points, Google notched 86 points this year too - same as last year -, followed by its closest competitor, Yahoo, with 77 points; Microsoft with 75; Ask. com with 74; and AOL with 70 points. In fact, Google is the market leader both in terms of customer satisfaction as well as market share.

Commenting on Google's score of 86, the highest satisfaction scores ever recorded by a company, Larry Freed, President and CEO of ForeSee Results said: "What's interesting is that Google has really set an expectation with consumers and they've done a good job living up to it."