Google's revenue in the fourth quarter (ended Dec. 31) increased 67 percent and profit nearly tripled, easily beating analysts' estimates, writes CNET.

Net earnings for the quarter were $1.03 billion, or $3.29 a share, compared with $372 million, or $1.22 a share, in the year-earlier quarter. Taking into account one-time items such as stock-based compensation, earnings were $997 million, or $3.18 a share.

Total revenue for the quarter rose 67 percent to $3.2 billion, compared with $1.92 billion a year ago, Google reported. Excluding traffic acquisition costs - commissions paid to partners - revenue was $2.23 billion.

PPC ads on Google's network and partners' sites grew more than 60 percent in the aggregate, according to CFO George Reyes. Paid search constitutes nearly all revenue for Google, which is expanding into radio and print.
 
"We paid over $3 billion in 2006 to our partners and this is a figure that we expect is going to increase as we ramp up our video, radio and print programs," founder Sergey Brin said in a conference call with analysts.