Microsoft sales soothe Vista fears
Friday, 27 Apr 2007 10:12
The boost to sales in the third quarter is said to have been driven by Vista
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Microsoft's third-quarter results are expected to have soothed fears that the new Vista system is too expensive.
With better than expected sales of the new operating system, Microsoft's profits to the end of March rose by 65 per cent to $4.9 billion (£2.45 billion) compared to the same period last year.
Microsoft's newest operating system went on sale at the end of January to mixed reviews. Many feel the software is too expensive and requires changes to computer hardware for some users.
However the boost to sales in the third quarter for the software giant, headed by billionaire Bill Gates, is said to have been driven by Vista.
"This quarter marked the consumer launches of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and we are delighted with the positive customer response these products have received," Microsoft's chief operating officer, Kevin Turner, said of the results.
Looking to the next quarter, ending on June 30th, Microsoft said it expected to raise profits between $13.1 billion to $13.4 billion (£6.56 billion to £6.7 billion).