Microsoft’s Windows 7 surpassed the 10-year-old Windows XP to become the most used operating system in the United States, Irish Web analytics firm StatCounter claimed.

According to statistics released by StatCounter, Windows 7's average daily share during the first 10 days of April was 32.2 per cent, compared with Windows XP's average usage share of 30.7 per cent.

It was the first time that Windows 7's usage share surpassed that of the Windows XP.

As far as other operating systems in the United States are concerned, Windows Vista reported average usage share of 19.5 per cent, while Apple's Mac OS remained at 14.8 per cent.

It was in August 2009 when Vista peaked with a usage share of 35.6 per cent, while Windows XP’s share fell under 50 per cent at the same time.

The software supplier has touted Windows 7's sales several times since it was released in October 2009, and has claimed that Windows 7 is its fastest-selling operating system ever.

Analysts also agreed that Microsoft’s Windows 7 has been a success, particularly compared to the halfhearted reception gained by Windows Vista.