Google, Apple, Microsoft among most discussed tech brands

Internet search titan Google, technology giant Apple and software firm Microsoft are among the most discussed technology brands in India, dominating most of the online conversations, a latest survey has found.

According to Digital Brand Index (DBI) for India compiled by Edelman in collaboration with Brandtology, Google has emerged as the top technology brand in India during April-June quarter.

Google and Apple secured 48,750 and 21,049 mentions at all-monitored conversations, respectively among the list of top 10 technology brands.

Apple, clocked the highest gains in overall online buzz with a 110 per cent jump from January-March period, replacing Microsoft for the second position on quarter-on-quarter basis.
    
According to the survey, Google is the most discussed technology brand online in India on account of Google Buzz and Android-related conversations, while Apple got the traction due to flagship products--iPad, Apple App Store and iPhone 4G.
    
Microsoft is followed by Samsung and Sony at the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
    
The DBI tracked 222,818 online conversations pertaining to 97 large technology brands contained in 479 influential channels between April-June 2010, which saw over a hundred brand being mentioned online every hour on an average, Edelman said.

The report said there has been a 19 per cent increase in online brand mentions between April and June period of 2010 compared to January-March period of the same year.

"In line with mainstream media coverage, and global mobility trends, DBI 10.3 findings show a significant rise in mobile applications and new device launch related conversations," Brandtology Business Development Director Kelly Choo said.

Besides, the index also features online channels which includes influential blogs, forums and online news outlets used for technology related conversations online.

In addition, the survey said that Twitter India has emerged as the "buzziest" communication channel in India with about 69 per cent of the overall conversation share, up from 4 per cent in January-March period of 2010.

Among the communication channels, TechArena Community Forums emerged as the key hub for technology-related conversations.

"The 33 leading software and consumer tech brands included in the DBI amassed 70 per cent of the online technology conversations in the three month period, among the 97 Tech brands included in the index," Edelman (India) National Practice Leader - Technology Varghese Cherian said.
    
Other brands on the list include Adobe at the sixth spot, chip maker Intel at the seventh spot, followed by Handset makers HTC (8th), Nokia (9th) and computer firm Dell.