Microsoft Corp. on Thursday posted a second-quarter profit that surpassed analysts’ estimates on sales of its Xbox 360 game console and Windows programs for personal computers. The world’s largest softwaremaker reported a 79 percent jump in net income, to $4.71 billion, or 50 cents a share, from $2.63 billion, or 26 cents a share, a year earlier. The most recent result surpassed estimates by 4 cents a share. Sales climbed 30 percent, to $16.4 billion. In the year-ago quarter, Microsoft deferred $1.64 billion in sales, cutting revenue and profit. PC sales rose more than Microsoft forecast, bolstering orders for Windows and Office programs. Holiday purchases of the Xbox 360 also fueled revenue, as shoppers bought the console to play the “Halo 3″ shooting game, unavailable on rival systems such as Nintendo Co.’s Wii.
“Halo 3″ became the best-selling game in the U.S. last year after its Sept. 25 debut, according to researcher NPD Group Inc. In the Windows business, the Redmond, Wash.-based company gained by persuading PC-makers to install pricier versions of its Vista operating system. PC shipments rose 15.5 percent in the quarter, according to researcher IDC. Microsoft had projected an increase of as much as 13 percent. It looks that Bill sticks to the old saying and leaves his company at the best time…
Source: Chicago Tribune
