Apple's latest quarterly profit soared above $1 billion as its iPod music players flew off shelves in the Christmas season.
With iPod sales topping 21 million, Apple posted revenues of $7.1 billion and a profit of $1.14 per share in its first quarter to the end of December. The results far exceeded analysts' expectations of 78 cents per share and sales of $6.42 billion.
Apple shipped 1.6 million Macintosh computers and 21 million iPods during the quarter, representing 28% growth in Macintosh sales and 50% growth in iPod sales from the same quarter a year ago.
'We've just kicked off what is going to be a very strong new product year for Apple by launching Apple TV and the revolutionary iPhone,' said chief executive Steve Jobs. Jobs dramatically introduced Apple's iPhone last week at a MacWorld Conference in San Francisco and the company promised they would be in US stores in June.
Apple said it expected second-quarter revenue of $4.8-4.9 billion and earnings per share of 54-56 cents.
