Now "Google among top ten brands in the world"

Internet search engine "Google" has jumped ten spots to reach at number 10 in the list of the "Best Global Brands 2008".

Google, which has built on its dominance in internet searches to expand into software, video, mapping and web browsing, was "the undisputed king of the internet world", and its brand value had shot up by 43 per cent, from 21.9 billion dollars to 31.5 billion dollars, said a report in news.com.au.

According to the report, the annual study on the hottest brands in the world showed that tech companies put on the strongest showing, financial companies were the weakest, in.

Besides Google, Apple was the second brand which was the biggest mover in Interbrand's "definitive" 2008 Best Global Brands. Apple jumped 9 spots to 24.

To qualify for inclusion in the Best Global Brands 2008 list, each brand must derive at least a third of its earnings outside its home country, be recognisable outside of its base of customers, and have publicly available marketing and financial data.

Coca-Cola took the top spot for the eighth year in a row thanks to its famous ad campaigns and knack for reinvention. IBM pushed ahead of Microsoft for the first change to the top four since at least 2001. GE held onto fourth position.

The top ten brands, according to the "Best Global Brands 2008" list are:

1. Coca-Cola

2. IBM

3. Microsoft

4. GE

5. Nokia

6. Toyota

7. Intel

8. McDonald's

9. Disney

10. Google