The Redmond-based first has lost two positions from last month

May 22, 2013 00:21 GMT  ·  By

Windows 8 and Surface tablets have made no difference to Microsoft’s brand value, as the tech giant has dropped two places in the official BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking.

Microsoft is now the seventh company in the list, with a brand value worth $69.8 billion (€54.2 billion), down nine percent as compared to the year before.

Unsurprisingly, the top ten is clearly dominated by technologies companies, including Apple (still first in the rankings), Google, and IBM.

“This year’s ranking highlights the return on investment that brands give businesses. It shows that strong brands bring market share growth, increased profits from being able to command a price premium and greater shareholder returns,” David Roth, CEO of The Store at WPP, the company that conducted the research, explained.

Samsung scored the most impressive increase in brand value, by jumping from the 55th place to 30th in 2013, up 51 percent versus 2012 figures.