IHS has released a forecast that said Windows Phone 7 (WP7) will catch up with iOS in 2015.

The analytics firm estimated that Microsoft’s mobile operating system would rise into second place and bump Apple’s iOS to third in smartphone shipments three years from now due to Nokia’s ramped up efforts to promote its new flagship operating system.

“Combined with Nokia’s efforts to drive the development of the Windows Phone ecosystem, the Lumia 900 and its successors will help Microsoft to reclaim its No. 2 ranking in smartphone operating system market share in 2015,” said Wayne Lam, Senior Analyst for Wireless Communications at IHS.

Image: Beau Giles via Flickr (CC)

According to IHS’ forecast, Microsoft, with 16.7 percent that year, will edge out iOS by 0.1 percent after a 14.8 percent gain in market share for WP7, whereas Apple will lose 1.4 percent for IOS.

In 2015, Google’s Android OS will remain dominant in the smartphone platform market with 58.1 percent for an increase of 10.7 percent based on the study.

IHS said that RIM’s BlackBerry, Nokia’s Symbian and Samsung’s Bada will collectively drop from 32.7 percent to a mere 8.6 percent in 2015.

About Francis Rey Balolong

A coffee junkie who spends most of his time writing about the latest news on social media and mobile technology. I would definitely consider myself a nerd (in the coolest most hipster way possible). That being said, I love technology, music, writing, and all things mobile. Follow me: Google+ Twitter

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