Google has overtaken Apple as the world's most valuable brand, according to the the annual MillwardBrown BrandZ report. Its brand value grew by 40 percent year-on-year to $159bn, boosted by a strong financial performance and consumer perception that innovations, such as Glass and Chromecast, make the brand stand out. Apple's brand value has slipped 20 percent to $148bn due to what the report authors cite as a common perception it is no longer redefining technology.

Facebook reportedly tried unsuccessfully to buy Snapchat and now it's planning to take it on with a a video-chat messaging service, known internally as Slingshot. According to "The Financial Times," it will work in a similar way to TapTalk, allowing users to tap a friend's profile picture and then send them a photo or short video which can only be viewed once. The new app is considered so important that Mark Zuckerberg is personally overseeing its development.

Video games retailer Game Group has given its European advertising brief to 101 in a competitive pitch which included the incumbent, TBWA\London. Previously the retailer had worked with several agencies. Before TBWA\London, Cheethambell JWT had held the account since 2004. In January Game Group was reported to be considering a GBP300m float, two years after being bought out of administration by OpCapita.

Radio company UBC has bought digital music service 7digital for GBP16.5m in a reverse takeover to create a global music and radio business. 7digital provides music services for the likes of Samsung, HTC and Pioneer, and under the deal will control 75% of the new company. UBC supplies multimedia content to the BBC and 250 commercial radio stations and powers the UK RadioPlayer's station listings and search function.

BBC Worldwide Chief Digital Officer Dan Heaf, has admitted that it is very hard for media companies to match technology businesses in terms of media consumption. Speaking at the Open Mobile Media, Heaf said that media companies are realising that to be successful in digital they must have a wider international presence and buy production companies in markets, including America, The big risk is, he concedes, that media companies are too late and are now playing catch-up with Netflix, Amazon and AOL.

Groupon is planning to launch a tablet-based voucher service that will allow customers to utilise offers without the need to present a paper voucher or show a code on a mobile phone. The Gnome (pronounced G-nome) service will allow offers to be redeemed by Bluetooth or a customer's name. Groupon claims the tablet will allow retail businesses to recognise customers when they enter the premises and will take credit and debit card payments too. It is expected to be rolled out to thousands of merchants in the coming months.

Following its first fall in profits for five years Ryanair has announced it will be increasing its marketing spend by 250 percent to 35m Euros this year. Last month it ran its first television adverts in the UK and will be launching further tv and press campaigns in the UK and selected markets in Europe. Budget will also be allocated to improving digital marketing and CRM, Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary has revealed.

M&C Saatchi's digital and direct agency, Lida, has been appointed to run retail marketing and aftersales for Land Rover. Lida won the business in a competitive pitch run by ISBA. The brief is to deliver a customer-first approach that breaks the mould of retail marketing. The appointment comes after Lida was last year tasked with developing a class-leading customer engagement programme for Land Rover.

Their last campaign did little to reignite poor sales and was criticised for concentrating too heavily on mainstream beers, but now the nation's big five brewers are preparing an integrated summer campaign with the tag line "There's More to Beer." SapientNitro is shaping the strategy for the new campaign, which is believed to be focused on the craft of beer making and the diversity of beer styles and tastes. The campaign is led by Ab InBev, SAB Miller, Heineken, Molson Coors and Carlsberg.

Frozen food brand McCain has appointed TMW as its UK digital agency following a competitive pitch run by ISBA. The agency, part of The Creston Group, is tasked with managing McCain's Web site and social media strategy. It will also be expected to give the brand's two-year sponsorship of Emmerdale more impact online. TMW won the digital account from Stack, which had been the incumbent since 2010.