Google beats Apple as top global brand

Internet search leader Google has overtaken rival technology titan Apple as the world's top brand in terms of value, global market research agency Millward Brown said Wednesday.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 21 May 2014, 03:56 PM
Updated : 22 May 2014, 05:27 AM

Google, IBM, Apple and Microsoft topped global stalwarts Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Marlboro in a Top Ten brand value list packed with seven technology companies.

US giant Google's brand value shot up 40 per cent in a year to $158.84 billion, according to the annual Millward Brown "BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands" report.

Its Google Glass and investments in artificial intelligence sweep have unseated iPhone maker, according to media reports.

The iPhone and iPad maker Apple, which dominated the top position for three straight years, saw its brand value fall by 20 percent to $147.88 billion.

According to the report, Apple’s new product launches showed that it no longer reinvented technology for its users.

IBM was in third place at $107.54 billion, a fall of 4 percent, followed by Microsoft at $90.19 billion -- a 29 percent rise, according to the study by Millward Brown.
Fast food chain McDonald's ranked next at $85.71 billion, followed by Coca-Cola $ 80.68 billion, the global brands agency said.
Brand value is calculated on the basis of the firms' financial performance and their standing among consumers.
"Google has been extremely innovative this year with Google Glass, investments in artificial intelligence and a range of partnerships," said Benoit Tranzer, the head of Millward Brown France, quoted by Business Insider.
"All these activities send a very strong signal to consumers about the essence of Google," Tranzer said.
The top 10 of the 100 slots were dominated by US firms.