Google is the world's most reputed company

Internet search titan Google and electronics giant Sony are among "the world's most reputed companies", as customers have placed a lot of faith and trust in these firms, says a study.

The world's most reputed companies list compiled by the US-based brand and reputation management consulting firm Reputation Institute has been topped by Google followed by Sony.

The list is made on the basis of admiration, trust and good feeling that consumers have towards a company.

Entertainment and media firm The Walt Disney Company and German luxury car maker BMW have been ranked at the third and the fourth place respectively while auto maker Daimler/Mercedes-Benz secured the fifth place in the world's 28 most reputed companies.

"Top rated Sony and Google were consistently strong around the world, with Sony scoring among the top five in all regions and Google in four of the five regions. Google did not make it into Asia's top five," the survey said.

In the Asia region, The Walt Disney Company got the top rank, followed by Daimler/Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Sony and Singapore Airlines. The list has 12 American companies while there are three each from Germany and Japan.

Besides, technology giant Apple bagged the sixth rank, handsets maker Nokia (seventh), Sweden's retailer IKEA (eighth), car-manufacturer Volkswagen (ninth) and Chip maker Intel (10th).

"Technology has a powerful grip on the global rankings. Companies like Google, Sony, Apple, Nokia, Intel, and Microsoft have earned our trust and respect because they are all-pervasive solution-providers that affect our daily lives," said Reputation Institute Chairman Charles Fombrun.

Fombrun added, "Disney's global mind-share as an entertainment provider is remarkable, as is the admiration with which consumers hold auto-makers BMW and Daimler/Mercedes-Benz. They are power-houses of reputation- building around the world."

The report also found that Apple, Ford, Google, Nestle and Sony enjoyed better reputation globally compared to their home markets. The survey was conducted on 600 largest companies from 27 countries, out of which 28 were selected for the list.

Others on the list are Microsoft (11th), Johnson & Johnson (12th), Panasonic (13th), Singapore Airlines (14), Philips Electronics (15th), IBM (17th), Hewlett-Packard (18th), Nestle (20th), Honda Motor (24th), Coca-Cola Company (25th) and Procter & Gamble (27th).