Google overtakes Apple as world\\\'s top brand: survey

US search engine Google has overtaken rival technology titan Apple as the world’s top brand in terms of value, global market research agency Millward Brown
said on Tuesday. Google’s brand value shot up 40 per cent in a year to $158.84 billion (115b euros), Millward Brown said in its 2014 100 Top BrandZ report. ‘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. Google Glass is Internet-linked eyewear for which the firm has joined hands with Luxottica, a frame giant behind Ray-Ban and other high-end brands, to sell the new product in the United States. On the other hand, Apple, which dominated the top position for three straight years, saw its brand value fall by 20 per cent to $147.88b. The top 10 of the 100 slots were dominated by US firms. IBM was in third place at $107.54b, a fall of 4 pc, followed by Microsoft at $90.19b -- a 29 pc rise. Fast food chain McDonald’s ranked next at $85.71b, followed by Coca Cola ($80.68b), it said. China led in the insurance sector with Ping An valued at $12.4b and China Life ($12b), according to AFP.