Apple sales hit US$15.7bn on success of iPhone 4 and iPad

21 Jul 2010

The launch of the iPhone 4, which sold 3 million units in just three weeks, marked the most successful product launch in Apple’s history, said CEO Steve Jobs as he revealed Q3 revenues of US$15.7bn.

Apple last night reported a net quarterly profit of US$3.25bn, or US$3.51 per diluted share.

These results compare to revenue of US$9.73bn and net quarterly profit of US$1.83bn just 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,” said Jobs.

“iPad is off to a terrific start, more people are buying Macs than ever before, and we have amazing new products still to come this year.”

Apple sold 3.47 million Mac computers during the quarter, representing a new quarterly record and a 33pc unit increase over the year-ago quarter.

The company sold 8.4 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 61pc unit growth on last year.

The company began selling iPads during the quarter, with total sales of 3.27 million.

But there has been a casualty. Apple sold 9.41 million iPods during the quarter, representing an 8pc unit decline from the year-ago quarter.

Gross margin was 39.1pc compared to 40.9pc in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 52pc of the quarter’s revenue.

“We’re really pleased to have generated over US$4bn of cash during the quarter,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO.

“Looking ahead to the fourth fiscal quarter of 2010, we expect revenue of about US$18bn and we expect diluted earnings per share of about US$3.44.” Oppenheimer said.

Apple’s iPad goes on sale in Ireland and 16 other countries this Friday 23 July while the iPhone 4 will go on sale in Ireland on Friday 30 July.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com