‘Record’ iPhone, Mac Sales Boost Apple But Still No Watch Figures

Apple has credited ‘record’ fourth quarter sales of the iPhone for another strong set of results, with revenues rising from $42.1 billion (£27.5bn) to $51.5 billion (£33.7bn) year on year and profit jumping from $8.5 billion to $11.1 billion.

The company shifter 48 million iPhone units, up from 39.3 million last year, contributing $32.2 billion (£21.1bn) to Apple’s revenue sheet – significantly more than the $23.7 billion (£15.5bn)generated in Q4 of 2014.

Apple also boasted of ‘all time records’ for its Mac computers, of which 5.7 million were sold to the tune of $6.9 billion (£4.5bn), and services (including Apple Pay), income from which increased to $5 billion from $4.6 billion (£3bn). But iPad sales fell again from 10.9 million to 9.9 million, although revenues remained fairly flat at $4.3 billion (£2.8bn).

Apple results

“Expanded availability” of the Apple Watch was also cited as a reason for the firm’s continued performance, but once again it has neglected to provide sales figures. Instead, it grouped all revenue gained from the wearables with sales of accessories, Beats headphones and the iPod. In total, sales from ‘other’ products increased from $1.9 billion (£1.2bn) to $3 billion (£2bn) and are likely to rise again once the refreshed Apple TV is launched.

“Fiscal 2015 was Apple’s most successful year ever, with revenue growing 28% to nearly $234 billion,” boasted Apple CEO Tim Cook. “This continued success is the result of our commitment to making the best, most innovative products on earth, and it’s a testament to the tremendous execution by our teams.”

Apple expects revenues for the next quarter to be between $75.5 billion (£49.5bn) and $77.7 billion (£50.8bn), but there are concerns among investors as to how long Apple can keep its winning streak going. New iPhone models have been hugely popular and have so far contradicted fears of smartphone saturation, but tablet sales continue to fall and Apple’s investors will want to see it innovate in more categories. This desire fuelled continued speculation about the Apple Watch prior to its launch.

One way Apple is easing fears is through its expansion into the enterprise market, offering applications, Macs and iPads to businesses through partnerships with the likes of IBM and Box.

Cook told Boxworks in San Francisco last month that its business ambitions were “not a hobby” and that is vision could transform enterprise mobility.

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