"Internet search engine Google has retaken first place in the 2005 global poll of the world's most influential brands, while the eBay-owned web phone service Skype makes its debut at No 3," reports Reuters.
The annual survey compiled by online branding magazine brandchannel.com is based on the votes of "2,528 branding professionals and students".
The top five in the European list are Nokia, Ikea, Skype, Zara and BMW. The top five in Asia-Pacific are Sony, Toyota, Samsung, LG and HSBC. But the most interesting list in the story is for Latin America:
Latin America's top two are party beverages Corona and Bacardi, with mobile phone operator Movistar in third. Sandal maker Havaianas takes fourth place and Mexican building materials group Cemex is fifth.
