Will Apple, Google or Microsoft make one OS to rule them all?

With Microsoft's reorganization last week, a curious thing has now happened at the three companies that are the biggest players in the world of operating systems. In the last year, Apple, Google and Microsoft have all moved to put one person in charge of both their mobile and desktop operating systems. Coincidence Perhaps.

But Colin Gillis, an analyst at BGC Partners, who mentioned the trend in a recent conversation, says the shift seems to be pointing each company toward convergence some time, even if that point remains far down the road. "Do these companies want both of those operating systems?" Gillis said. "Probably not." Over time, Gillis said, as mobile hardware becomes more robust, these companies can build more features into their mobile OS. At the same time, users of desktops and laptops are growing to expect some of the mobile features on those platforms.