Google begins homepage refresh to promote Gmail, YouTube, Google+

Google has begun rolling out a homepage redesign to a select number of users, designed to help the firm promote more of its services, including YouTube and Gmail, to those searching for content.

The redesigned homepage touts a new dropdown bar under the Google logo to allow search users to see seven alternative services offered by the firm. A "More" link at the bottom of the list will offer up another eight services to users.

The change will allow Google to keep its clean homepage interface while offering users more navigation between Google's many services.

Google revealed the changes would be coming in a blog post in November.

At the time, Google said the new dropdown bar will also support its push into the social networking space, helping users share the right content on Google+.

A spokesman for Google confirmed to V3 that the rollout had begun but could not say when all Google users would have access to the new homepage.

At the moment, those who can access the new homepage are thought to be selected at random.

The redesign comes as the European Commission steps up its antitrust investigation into Google.

It was revealed in December that the Commission is expected to issue a 400-page document outlining its concerns that the web giant is using its dominance in the search market to favour its own services at the expense of other companies.