Google Inc has knocked Microsoft Corp from its perch as the world's top-ranked brand, according to findings released on Monday.

The rankings, compiled by market research firm Millward Brown, also put Google ahead of well-established brands like General Electric Co, No 2; Coca-Cola Co, No 4; Wal-Mart Stores, No 7; and IBM, No 9.

Some key factors seen this year in building brand recognition ranged from corporate responsibility to serving customers in emerging markets like Brazil and India, according to the study.

The top-ranked brand from a non-US-based company was China Mobile, which dropped a spot but still came in at No 5.

The rankings were based on publicly available financial data along with primary research, including interviews with a million consumers worldwide, Millward Brown said.

For Google, which ranked No 7 a year ago, the jump to the top underscores how quickly the Web search leader has become an everyday name. The company uses relatively little advertising, instead relying on word-of-mouth promotion.

By contrast, Microsoft's slide down to third place from first comes even as the software company has been rolling out its new Windows Vista operating system with a massive global marketing blitz.

Eileen Campbell, global chief executive of Millward Brown, said the rankings showed "a blend of good business leadership, responsible financial management and powerful marketing ... can be leveraged to create and grow corporate wealth."

Some of the other big movers on the list included Apple Inc which rose 13 spots to No 16 and Starbucks Corp, which rose 13 spots to No 35. Those losing ground in the brand rankings included Intel Corp, Home Depot Inc and Dell Inc.

Millward Brown is a unit of WPP Group and the findings were published in cooperation with the Financial Times.

Courtesy : Expressindia.com

THE city’s longest circular route will be inaugurated on Thursday when buses on route number 201/301 will start plying from Naroda to Naroda. The 57 km long route will have buses with frequency of 20 minutes and ten buses in each direction will run initially, said an AMTS release on Tuesday.

Without entering congested localities, the buses on this route will connect the eastern suburbs with western parts of the city and people will reach their destination without loss of time, said Transport Committee chairman Asit Vora and Deputy Municipal Commissioner in charge of AMTS T G Jhalavadia.

As per the plans, route number 201 will start from Naroda and come back to Naroda via Naroda village, Saijpur, Thakkarbapa Approach road, Viratnagar, Soni ni Chali, CTM, Isanpur Cross Road, Govindvaid, Jaimala, Jawahar Chowk, Bhairavnath, Neelam Kunj, Shah Alam Toll Naka, Danilimda char rasta, Chandranagar, Vasna, Jivraj Park, Shyamaprasad Mukherji bridge, Shivranjani, Blind People’s Association, AEC office, Pragati nagar, Bhavsar Hostel, Subhash bridge circle, Shahibaug underpass, Girdharnagar, Civil Hospital corner, Duffnala, Camp Hanuman, Sardarnagar, Kotarpur, Noblenagar, Nana Chiloda cross road, Naroda crossing and Galaxy cinema.

Buses on route number 301 will run in the anti-clockwise direction, they said.

Courtesy : Expressindia.com