科技英语新闻:Microsoft quarterly results beat estimates

SAN FRANCISCO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Microsoft Corp. on Thursday posted quarterly revenue and earnings that both beat analysts' expectations.

In its fiscal 2011 third quarter ended on March 31, the software giant reported revenue of 16.43 billion U.S. dollars, up 13 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Net income and earnings per share were 5.23 billion dollars and 61 cents, representing increases of 31 percent and 36 percent respectively year-on-year.

Analysts had expected earnings of 56 cents per share on revenue of 16.19 billion dollars, according to Thomson Reuters.

"We delivered strong financial results despite a mixed PC environment, which demonstrates the strength and breadth of our businesses," Peter Klein, chief financial officer at Microsoft, said in a statement.

"Consumers are purchasing Office 2010, Xbox and Kinect at tremendous rates, and businesses of all sizes are purchasing Microsoft platforms and applications," he added.

Revenue at four of Microsoft's five major divisions posted double-digit growth in the quarter, indicating the increase of technology spending by enterprises as well as strong demand for the company's entertainment products.

The entertainment and devices division saw the biggest revenue growth of 60 percent, which according to Microsoft, were driven by strong demand for its Kinect hands-free motion control system for Xbox 360 and continued strong sales of Xbox 360 console.

However, revenue for the division of the company's flagship Windows operating system dropped 4 percent in the quarter, which Microsoft said was "in line with the PC trends."

The performance of the Windows division may fuel new concerns that Microsoft's dominance in software for PCs is being threatened by Apple's iPad and tablet computers running other operating systems, some analysts noted.