Updated on Friday, April 27, 2007, 00:00 IST

Silicon Valley, April 27: Google, with a brand value of USD 66.4 billion, has unseated Microsoft as the world's most powerful brand, according to an annual ranking by a market research firm.

Silicon Valley-based Google is followed closely by General Electric (USD 61.8 billion), Microsoft (USD 54.9 billion) and Coca-Cola (USD 44.1 billion), according to the UK research firm Millward Brown Optimor.

The Brandz Top 100 study by Millward Brown said that the search engine's brand value has increased by 77 per cent since last year.

"Success stories from this year's Brandz Top 100 demonstrate that winning brands leverage major market trends effectively to create business value," said Joanna Seddon, chief executive at Millward Brown.

"Strong brands are capable of extending into areas of opportunity to access new revenue streams and to help businesses respond to market changes." The ranking attempts to put a dollar value on a brand based on current and expected future earnings. The figure is generated from hard economic data as well as softer variables such as intangible consumer loyalty and perceived growth potential.

Bureau Report