Software giant Microsoft named Britain's top 'superbrand'

LONDON (AFP) - US software giant Microsoft retained its crown as Britain's top "superbrand" according to a survey of more than 3,000 consumers released Thursday.

It beat out soft drinks company Coca-Cola and Internet search engine Google, which finished second and third respectively.

The highest-ranking British brand was the BBC at fourth, followed by energy company BP, and airline British Airways, the survey conducted by polling company YouGov for the Superbrands Council showed.

The council, made up of marketing, advertising and media experts, rated a list of nearly 1,500 brands according to their quality, reliability and distinctiveness.

Of those, the top 725 were subjected to a public vote in which 3,265 consumers participated.