Apple remained at the top of a global ranking of brands for 2013, with a value of $185 billion, but Samsung Electronics is closing the gap, moving up 25 places to No. 30, according to the latest BrandZ Top 100 study of leading global brands. The report found that technology and telecoms brands still dominate the top 100, despite flat value growth in both sectors during 2012. The 16 technology brands and 12 telecoms brands account for nearly half of the ranking's total value, and half of the top 10 brands are in technology or telecoms. The brand value of telecom providers overall went up 1 per cent, compared to a 7 per cent decline last year, and three of the four brands in the top 20--AT&T, China Mobile and Verizon--rose in value. BT benefitted from its Olympic sponsorship to enter the ranking for the first time, entering the UK ranking at no. 7 and the global ranking at No. 94. Vodafone is the most valuable British brand, according to the report. Report
