HONG KONG - JAPANESE electronic giant Sony is Asia's favourite brand, according to a survey of Asian shoppers released on Sunday that was dominated by consumer technology firms.

Sony replaced Finnish phone maker Nokia as the region's top brand, ahead of another Japanese electronics firm Canon and US sportswear firm Nike, according to the survey by Media magazine and market researchers TNS.

The appeal of technology across the region was highlighted by the presence in the top 20 of US firms Hewlett-Packard and Apple, South Korean giants Samsung and LG, as well as Japan's Panasonic, the survey found.

US Internet firm Google was seen as the top media and telecommunications company, while Coca-Cola was the most popular beverage, the survey found.

A total of 3,600 consumers in 10 different markets including Australia and China were interviewed for the survey.

Asia, including increasingly China, has become a key market for many of the world's leading firms in the past 10 years, with many targeting the region's gadget-mad consumers. -- AFP