Windows 7 helps boost Microsoft Q2 profits by 48%

The software giant says strong sales of Windows 7 is continuing to help boost profits, with 175m licences sold since the operating system's launch last year.

Total revenues hit $16bn (£10.4bn), with strong sales from Bing and Xbox.

Profits for the year to the end of June were $18.76bn (£12.2bn), a 29% increase on the previous 12 months.

Peter Klein, Microsoft's chief financial officer, said, "The revenue growth, combined with our ongoing cost discipline, helped us achieve another quarter of margin expansion."

In the UK, Microsoft has invested millions in pushing its products with the I'm A PC ad campaign. The ads now also showcase Internet Explorer 8, following the EU's decision to force users to make their own browser choices, and Hotmail, its online email service.

Microsoft said Windows 7 has proved to be its bestselling operating system to date after the disappointing Vista. Initial YouGov figures suggested its marketing had helped to boost interest in the product.

The company is now focusing on parents and children in its summer campaign for Office 2010, amid claims that sales of the software suite have been disappointing since its launch a month ago.

It also recently decided to push its search engine Bing in the UK using TV ads and sponsorship of The Simpsons.

Published by: Joe Fernandez

Published 23rd July, 2010

Add comment