Google has been named the world's most influential brand in a survey by online branding magazine brandchannel.com.
The popular search engine topped the survey in 2003 and in 2005 reclaimed the top spot from US computer giant Apple, which came second.
Apple was brand of the year in 2004 and its distinctive lifestyle products and services, such as the iPod music device and iTunes music service, have continued to make it a household name.
US firms dominated the top 10 and made up more than half of those listed.
eBay-owned web phone service Skype made its debut at number three, while US coffee chain Starbucks and Swedish furniture group Ikea came in fourth and fifth respectively.
Finnish mobile phone group Nokia finished at number six, while US web giant Yahoo was seventh.
Web browser Firefox, online auctioneers eBay and Japanese electronics firm Sony made up the rest of the top ten.
Arabic TV station Al Jazeera was voted the world's twenty-fifth most influential brand, down from fifth place in last year's poll.
More than 2500 people from 99 countries voted in the 2005 poll. The greatest number of voters fell in the age range of 26 to 35 year olds, with about a third more men voting as women.




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