Apple revenue and profit rocketed to record highs in the latest quarter as sales of iPhones and iPads more than doubled with help from accelerating demand in Asia.
Apple said last night that its net profit more than doubled to $7.31 billion on unprecedented revenue of $28.57 billion in the quarter ending June 25.
'We're thrilled to deliver our best quarter ever, with revenue up 82% and profits up 125%,' Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said. 'Right now, we're very focused and excited about bringing iOS 5 and iCloud to our users this fall,' he added.
The Cupertino, California-based company said that it sold 20.34 million iPhones and 9.25 million iPad tablet computers in sales figures that eclipsed the same quarter last year by 142% and 183% respectively. Apple saw the number of Macintosh computers sold climb 14% to 3.95 million, while iPod sales slid 20% to 7.54 million units.
Apple also said that it will release the latest version of its Macintosh computer operating system, dubbed Lion, which boasts more than 250 new features including support for touch-screen controls.
Sales of Macintosh computers were up 14% from the year-ago quarter and dramatically outpaced the overall computer industry.
'We do believe that some customers chose to purchase an iPad instead of a new Mac during the quarter, but we think even more customers chose to purchase an iPad over a Windows personal computer,' Apple chief operating officer Tim Cook said.
Apple sold every iPad 2 it could make during the quarter and has been hustling to increase supplies of the coveted tablet computers. 'Sales of iPad 2 have absolutely been a frenzy for people to get one,' Cook said. 'We feel very good about the progress we have made ramping up.'
Along with being a hit outside of the workplace, iPads are increasingly being incorporated into operations at companies ranging from hospitals and retailers to airlines, according to Apple executives.
Apple revenue in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong was $3.8 billion, six times that seen in the same quarter last year, making the area a key driver behind the company's record financial results, according to Cook.
Stunning iPhone sales figures in the quarter were due in large part to demand in emerging and developing markets including China, Latin America, and the Middle East, according to company executives.
Apple said it has sold overall more than 222 million devices running on its mobile operating system. Its online iTunes store retained its crown as the world's top music retailer.
