Google as a brand? or a brand facilitator?

Today TechCrunch published an article on which brand is worth 100-billion dollars.

The answer is Google.

I tweeted the link to the post on Twitter today and @wickedboss replied.  It got us both thinking.

The interesting question here is where does Google fit in our modern ideals of what defines a brand  in 2009?

For my part, I say Yes it is a brand!

As I tweeted:

I figure that anything that you use at least once a day… has a place in calling itself a brand.  Don’t you?

BTW:  Thanks for the RT @wickedboss!