Apple rides high on another record quarter

Apple sold 8.75 million iPhones and 2.94 million Macs in its second quarter

Apple has reported record second-quarter financial results following strong iPhone and Macintosh sales.

IPhone sales rose by an impressive 131 per cent compared to the same quarter last year, reaching 8.75 million units, credited in large part to an increase in international sales, particularly in Asia and Europe.

The Macintosh computer line also did well, posting a 33 per cent increase over last year's quarter with a total of 2.94 million units sold.

Apple said that the success of the iPhone combined with solid personal computer numbers helped the firm to log its best quarter outside the holiday season.

Apple also provided an update on its new 3G iPad models, confirming that pre-ordered devices will begin arriving on 30 April.

Customers who have not yet pre-ordered will need to wait until 7 May, while international customers might not see the device until late May.

Apple said that the delays were down to a misjudgement of the market, rather than any problems on the manufacturing side.

"The big issue is that demand in the US is much stronger than we predicted," said Apple chief financial officer Tim Cook. "The level of demand shocked us, at least initially."