The company also claimed its iPhone smartphone launch was a success. For its first full quarter of iPhone sales, the company sold 1.12 million units, bringing total units sold to 1.39 million since the product was launched in late June. Apple COO Tim Cook said it took two years for the company to reach those shipment numbers with its iPod. We’re thrilled here, Cook said.
For its fourth quarter ended September 30, the company posted a $904m profit, or $1.01 a share, compared with $542m, or 62 cents, a year ago. This blew past analysts’ average forecasts of 86 cents a share on revenue of $6.07bn. Actual revenue came in at $6.22bn, way up from $4.84bn last year.
Macintosh computer shipments rose 34% to 2.16 million units shipped during the quarter compared to last year. iPod sales grew 17%.
Apple shares shot up more than 6.5% to $186.15 in after-hours trading on the Nasdaq yesterday, following the company’s earnings announcement.
Our View
The strength in Apple’s iPod business was no surprise given the devices’ huge following. And it seems the iPhone is heading in a similar direction. All this is helping attract more users to Macs in what is known as the ‘halo effect.’
