Apple's $15.7 billion in revenue is highest ever

From CNET News.com: Propelled by sales of the iPhone and iPad, Apple earned $3.25 billion in profit on $15.7 billion in revenue, its highest quarterly revenue ever.

The company reported its fiscal third-quarter results on Tuesday. Its reported earnings for the quarter represent an 88 percent increase in revenue over the same quarter a year ago, when Apple recorded revenue of $8.34 billion. The $15.7 billion figure is also on the high side of what Wall Street had been expecting: Analysts were anticipating between $13.82 billion and $15.74 billion in revenue, and earnings between $2.65 and $3.74 per share. Apple had offered a typically conservative forecast of third-quarter 2010 revenues between $13 billion and $13.4 billion, and earnings per share between $2.28 and $2.39.

Apple said it sold 3.27 million iPads during the quarter, the first quarter they were on sale. It also sold 3.47 million Macs, a 33 percent increase over a year ago, and 8.4 million iPhones, or 61 percent more than a year ago. iPod sales were down again--Apple sold 9.41 million during the third quarter, 8 percent fewer than a year ago.

"It was a phenomenal quarter that exceeded our expectations all around, including the most successful product launch in Apple's history, with iPhone 4," CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement.

The record-breaking earnings for Apple came at a fortuitous time, as Apple has been trying to shift the focus from the iPhone 4's antenna-related issues to the successful sales of the device.

Jobs also hinted that there would be more new devices in store between now and December, saying, "We have amazing new products still to come this year."

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