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Microsoft the Third Strongest Brand. Really?

Every year, BusinessWeek puts out a list of the world's strongest brands. Microsoft always hovers near the top and this year finished on the podium with a solid third-place finish. Sugar-water purveyor Coca-Cola is No. 1 and technology rival IBM came in second.

I'm a bit surprised about IBM. Sure, it's roughly double the size of Microsoft. But most consumers don't have any IBM gear. Meanwhile, even many Mac users still run Office (like all three of my kids; I should know -- I paid for the license). Microsoft touches almost all of us.

But the real surprise is that Harley-Davidson came in 72nd place, behind Hyundai! When was the last time you saw a Hyundai, IBM or Microsoft tattoo?

Posted by Doug Barney on September 21, 2009


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