Microsoft has posted a 24% increase in profits for the
first quarter ended 30 September, fuelled by strong growth in the
PC and server market.
Microsoft said profits jumped from $2.53bn (£1.48bn) to $3.14bn
(£1.85bn) in the quarter.
Sales for the first quarter increased from $9.19bn to $9.74bn.
For the full year, Microsoft said it expected to generate sales of
up to $44.5bn for the full year ending June.
At Microsoft Business Solutions, which supplies enterprise
products, revenue hit $181m. The division recorded 18% growth in
software revenue with 21% growth in licenses and 16% growth in
enhancement revenue.
Microsoft said it expected to take a 2% hit on full-year
earnings as a result of the recently announced multi-million dollar
settlement with RealNetworks, over the anti-trust case brought by
the media player maker.
Last year, Microsoft took a charge on earnings following its
anti-trust settlement with Novell.
