Windows Phone expected to be the biggest beneficiary of Blackberry’s demise

CNET reports that analysts expect Windows Phone to benefit most from the sale of Blackberry to Fairfax Holdings for $4.7 billion.

"Today’s news will speed up this move away from BlackBerry as no one will think they will get any support," said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi. "Windows Phone is well positioned to take advantage of BlackBerry’s weakness."

Blackberry is expected to retreat from the consumer market, leaving Windows Phone’s place as the 3rd ecosystem largely uncontested, and more carrier shelf space for Lumia phones.

Windows Phone has also already won a number of enterprise contracts from Blackberry, and with increasing uncertainty about the viability of the company this trend is likely to further continue.

In addition Windows Phone has a security advantage over Android, and a major cost advantage over the iPhone, making handsets running the OS a natural replacement for Blackberry in the business environment.

Do our readers think Windows Phone is poised to pick up another few percentage points? Let us know below.