IPod sales boost Apple profits

Apple has reported that it shipped 860,000 iPods and 876,000 Macs worldwide during its last financial quarter.

The figures represent a 183 per cent increase in iPod sales over the same quarter a year ago, and a 14 per cent increase in Mac sales, according to the company.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said in a statement: "It was an outstanding quarter - our highest third-quarter revenue in eight years.

"Our Mac-based revenue grew a healthy 19 per cent, and our music-based revenue grew an incredible 162 per cent."

Apple posted a net profit of $61m for the third quarter of its financial year, compared to a net profit of $19m for the same quarter a year ago.

Revenue for the quarter was $2bn, up 30 per cent, and gross margin was 27.8 per cent, up from 27.7 per cent in the year-ago quarter.

Apple said that international sales accounted for 39 per cent of the quarter's revenue.

The results include an after-tax restructuring charge of $6m. Excluding this charge, Apple said its net profit for the quarter would have been $67m.