Windows Phone moves ahead of BlackBerry in overall shipments for Q1

IDC report shows that Windows Phone may be gaining steam in the smartphone market

Windows Phone leaped over BlackBerry to become the second most popular mobile OS for Q1 2013, according to a study by IDC.

Microsoft powered smartphones took about three percent of the smartphone market share for the quarter. While Windows Phone's jump shows life for the mobile OS, both Android and iOS still lead the smartphone pack by a large margin.

Senior research analyst at IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker Kevin Restivo said: "Windows Phone claiming the third spot is a first and helps validate the direction taken by Microsoft and key partner Nokia. Given the relatively low volume generated, the Windows Phone camp will need to show further gains to solidify its status as an alternative to Android or iOS."

According to the study, about seven million Windows Phones were shipped in Q1. The shipments saw Redmond's mobile OS gain about one percent in market share for the quarter. About three million Windows Phones were shipped in the same quarter last year.

Anaylsts say that the jump in marketshare shows that Microsoft's partnership with Nokia is paying off. The two firms made a strong push in the smartphone market last year. The launch of the Lumia 920 saw Nokia, and Windows Phone, look to compete on the global stage.

While BlackBerry lost some market share for the quarter, it still shipped about six million devices for the quarter. With about one million of those shipments coming from devices launched with its BB10 OS. Overall, the Z10 maker lost about a four percent market share year-over-year.

Despite the decline, analysts say that the numbers were solid considering Q1 was the first quarter that saw BB10 devices in general availability.

Research manager for IDC's Mobile Phone team Ramon Llamas said: "Android and iOS accounted for more than the lion's share of smartphones in the first quarter, but a closer examination of the other platforms reveals turnaround and demand for alternatives.

"Windows Phone has benefited from Nokia's participation, and BlackBerry's new BB10 devices have already hit a million units shipped in its first quarter of availability."

Compared with iOS and Android, both platforms still have a while to go before they can compete. Android and iOS devices made up about 92 percent of the smartphone marketshare. The two platforms have continued to outpace the competition in the last few years.