www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Microsoft Corp. has been superseded by Apple Inc to become the most valuable technology company on optimism the company will keep adding customers for its iPhone, Macintosh computer and iPad. Microsoft’s $219.2 billion has been surpassed by Apple’s market value that reached $222.1 billion.

The rise has made the computer maker turned Mobile gadgeteer, the most valuable technology firm in the world. It is also the second-largest U.S. stock by market value, behind oil company Exxon Mobil Corp., valued at $278.6 billion on the New York Stock Exchange. The company’s profit almost doubled and sales soared 49 percent on demand for the iPhone and iPad too, contributed to the profit, which went on sale after the close of the quarter for the Cupertino, California-based company.

Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs after resuming leadership in 1997 took the company out of bankruptcy and since then, he has transformed it from the maker of Macintosh personal computers into a consumer electronics modernizer with the release of the iPod music player in 2001, the iPhone in 2007 and 2010 release of the iPad tablet.

The new financial readings mark a shift in the changing fortunes of two technology industry leaders.  The world’s largest software maker, Microsoft received mixed success expanding beyond its stronghold Windows operating system business into new markets, including mobile phones, Web search and gaming apps. However, Microsoft has been extremely weak over the last month, underperforming other technology stocks and that’s really what’s analysts feel has moved Apple into the leading position in terms of market cap.

The third-quarter sales of Microsoft rose 6.3 percent to $14.5 billion and both profit and sales exceeded the average estimate of analysts. Meanwhile, analyst’s prediction of quick growth for Microsoft might take some because of unearned revenue and a measure of multiyear contracts.