‘Biggest Ever’ iPhone 6 Launch Boosts Apple Revenues

Apple has reported profits of $8.47 billion (£5.24bn) for the fourth fiscal quarter, a year-on-year increase of 13 percent thanks to strong sales of iPhones and Macs, beating analysts’ expectations.

Revenues were $42.12 billion, larger than the $39.9 billion on average expected by Wall Street analysts, and the Cupertino-based company is expecting revenues of between $63.5 billion to $66.5 billion for the December quarter, as new models of the iPhone and iPad hit shelves in time for Christmas.

Strong iPhone 6 sales

Apple’s results were helped by sales of the new iPhone 6, which was on sale for 10 days during the quarter ended 30 September, during which 39.3 million units were sold.

“Our fiscal 2014 was one for the record books, including the biggest iPhone launch ever with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus,” said Tim Cook, Apple CEO.

The results announcement came on the same day that Apple launched its Apple Pay at a number US retailers including supermarkets and pharmacies. The scheme, which allows users to record a fingerprint giving access to stored payment data, is expected by some to be a major revenue driver at Apple in the coming years.

However, only a few shops are currently equipped to use the technology, and several major retailers, including Wal-Mart, have yet to sign up. Apple Pay is only available on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus at present.

Mac sales

But it wasn’t just mobile devices that contributed to Apple’s success. The company recorded the strongest percentage growth of Mac sales since the December quarter of 2011, with 21 percent growth to 5.5 million units, an impressive figure given the largely stagnant nature of the wider PC market.

It wasn’t all good news however, as iPad sales fell by 7 percent to 12.3 million as demand for tablets dries up. A refreshed range of iPads was announced last week and it is hoped this will improve sales in the next few months. The company has also agreed a partnership wtih IBM to provide tablets for businesses, alongside a range of custom applications.

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