Microsoft is still behind archrivals Android and iOS in the smartphone market as Windows Phone devices continue to fight its way to grab a spot in the top three mobile operating systems.

Research firm IDC has unveiled that Windows Phone handsets still chase after mobile devices running on Nokia’s Symbian and RIM’s BlackBerry.

The latest IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker released today reveals that Windows Phone is stuck at top five of all major mobile operating systems, following a 3.5 percent market share during the second quarter of this year.

Although Symbian and BlackBerry are ahead by only a very small margin with 4.4 and 4.8 percent, respectively, Windows Phone market share is a far cry from touching the toes of Android and iOS in the top three spots.

“The mobile OS market is now unquestionably a two-horse race due to the dominance of Android and iOS,” said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst on IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

“With much of the world’s mobile phone user base still operating feature phones, the smartphone OS market share battle is far from over. There is still room for some mobile OS competitors to gain share, although such efforts will become increasingly difficult as smartphone penetration increases.”

Android and iOS combined accounts for a dominating 85 percent of the entire mobile market.

Android remains the leader with a whopping 68.1 percent of the smartphone market, followed by iOS with 16.9 percent.

IDC predicts that Apple’s smartphone market share will likely increase after the company launches its next-generation iPhone, which is expected to arrive next month.

Source: IDC Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker

Image: Microsoft Sweden via Flickr (CC)

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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