Despite what the critics are claiming, Google's Google+ platform has shown exceptional growth and might top 400 million users by the end of 2012, a researcher has claimed.

Ancestry.com and FamilyLink.com founder Paul Allen wrote on his Google+ page that the platform was adding around 625,000 users every day and now has more than 62 million users, in less than a year after being launched.

He said that around one fourth of total Google+ users have joined the platform in the month of December, 2011. The platform had an estimated 50 million users on December 1 but ending the year with more than 62 million users.

Considering the current rate at which people are flocking to Google+, the platform will breach the 100 million mark on February 25th and 200 million user mark on August 3. The platform, going by the current rate, will have 293 million users by the end of 2012.

However, Allen expects that the platform to grow at a much greater pace owing to the rising popularity of Android along with the promotions Google has got going for Google+.

"Based on the accelerated growth I'm seeing and all the dials and levers Google can still utilize, and the developer ecosystem that will be developed, I predict that 2012 is going to be a breakout year for Google+ and that it will end next year with more than 400 million users," he predicted.