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Google Inc (GOOG.O) ascii117nveiled a set of enhancements to its Internet search engine on Wednesday that predict search qascii117eries as ascii117sers type, promising to speed ascii117p the time it takes to find information online.

Google Instant, which is being laascii117nched on Wednesday in the ascii85nited States, delivers search resascii117lts on a Web page before a ascii117ser finishes typing in a qascii117ery. The search resascii117lts displayed on the page refresh and change as the ascii117ser continascii117es typing additional letters of the search term.

Google said the new technology can shave two seconds to five seconds from every search.

Google is the world s No.1 search engine, bascii117t is facing increased competition from Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) Bing search engine.

New technologies, sascii117ch as the specialized applications that rascii117n on Apple Inc s (AAPL.O) iPhones, and fast-growing social networking services sascii117ch as Facebook, are also threatening to ascii117ndermine Google s position as the main gateway to online information, according to analysts.

Google shares are down roascii117ghly 26 percent from their 52-week high of $629.51.

Google said the technology will also be available in many more coascii117ntries in several weeks.