The news follows a period of trading which has seen IBM's share price climb steadily upward, while Microsoft's continues to fall.
IBM has, therefore, become the second biggest technology firm in the world, behind Apple.
Explaining the rise of the firm, Ted Schadler, a Forrester Research analyst, told Bloomberg: "IBM went beyond technology."
He added: "They were early to recognise that computing was moving way beyond these boxes on our desks."
Microsoft's falling value may change in 2012, however, as the firm is expected to launch the next edition of its series of operating systems.
Apple, meanwhile, still holds the top slot with a value of $362 billion (£232 billion). This is despite the fact that Steve Jobs, the former chief executive, recently announced that he was stepping down from his position.
Posted by Andre Dixon
