Google has retained its position as the most powerful brand on the planet, after new research has valued the online phenomenon at a massive US$86bn.

Technology companies dominated the third annual BrandZ Ranking, the results of which were issued yesterday by international consulting firm Millward Brown.    

GE took the second spot, with a brand value of $71.4bn, with Microsoft just behind at $70.8bn.

The top 10 also includes IBM ($55.3bn), Apple (up 123 per cent to $55.2bn), and Nokia ($43.9bn).

Research In Motion’s BlackBerry communications brand was one of the fastest risers, after experiencing a near four-fold increase in value to $13bn.
 
"The technology sector, which accounted for 28 of the top 100 brands, outperformed all other categories, with a brand value growth of $187.5bn," the study said.