Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Takes Third Place from BlackBerry Ltd (BBRY): Gartner

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) have been battling for third place in the smartphone operating system for quite some time. Android and iOS remain number one and two, respectively, but there is always room for other players.

This is where Microsoft and BlackBerry comes into the equation.

These companies may never have enough power in the operating system space to catch Android and iOS. That being said, there is nothing wrong with taking a strong hold on third place and seeing what happens from there.

The question is this: which one of these companies would be able to make a move and solidify itself as the third most popular operating system in the world? Well, it appears we may have found our answer.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), you are the Winner

In the smartphone operating system market, Gartner is reporting that Microsoft has overtaken BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) for the first time. Although this current success does not guarantee anything the next quarter or beyond, it is good news for Steve Ballmer and company.

On the other side of things, this is yet another blow to Thorsten Heins and BlackBerry. The company cannot get on stable ground, and has now seen its lead for third place in the smartphone operating system market disappear.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) was able to increase both its market share and volume in the second quarter of 2013. Its 3.3 percent market share is a small boost from the 2.6 percent it held onto during the same period last year.

BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) is moving in the opposite direction. Its current market share is 2.7 percent, which is down from 5.2 percent during the second quarter of 2012. The overall number of units shipped by the company has also taken a dive.

Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner, feels that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) should continue to focus on growing interest from app developers.

If Microsoft continues to move forward, expect these hedge fund managers to stick with the company: Sandy Nairn, Kelly Cardwell, Jeffrey Ubben, and James Litinsky.

As positive as things are looking for Microsoft right now, it is hard to overlook what is happening to BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY). The company continues to spiral out of control, losing market share and consumer interest.

What do you see happening over the next two quarters of 2013?

Check out the video below to learn more about Windows Phone vs iOS7:

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