Apple sells 51 million iPhones in third quarter

Apple sold 51 million iPhones in the quarter.

It does not share specific details on the success of Apple iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s.

Apple posted record quarterly revenue of $57.6 billion against $54.5 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Its quarterly net profit remained flat at $13.1 billion.

The company forecast sales of $42 billion to $44 billion this quarter, brisker than usual because of Apple’s new deal to sell iPhones through China Mobile, the country’s No. 1 carrier.

Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer told analysts on a conference call the March-quarter revenue outlook reflected the effects of a strong U.S. dollar, and more balanced levels of demand and supply for iPhones at the start of 2014 than a year earlier, when demand outstripped available inventory.

Peter-Oppenheimer Apple

In the December quarter, Apple recorded gross profit margins of 37.9 percent.

In the closely watched greater China region, which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan, revenue jumped 29 percent from a year earlier to $8.84 billion, bolstered by strong iPad sales and the iPhone’s global launch in September, when China was included among launch countries for the first time.

In the less competitive tablet arena, Apple sold 26 million iPads globally in the quarter.

The iPod, which sparked the revival of Apple last decade, is now a waning product, selling just over 6 million in the quarter, less than half the year-ago tally.

IPod sales declined by 52 percent year-over-year in the December quarter.

Apple sold 51 million iPhones compared to 47.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple also sold 26 million iPads during the quarter compared to 22.9 million in the year-ago quarter. The company sold 4.8 million Macs compared to 4.1 million in the year-ago quarter.

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