Microsoft quarterly results beat estimates

     SAN FRANCISCO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Microsoft Corp. on Thursday posted quarterly revenue and earnings¹ that both beat analysts²' expectations.

    In its fiscal³ 2011 third quarter ended on March 31, the software giant reported revenue of 16.43 billion U.S. dollars, up 13 percent from the same period a year earlier.

    Net income and earnings per share were 5.23 billion dollars and 61 cents, representing increases of 31 percent and 36 percent respectively year-on-year.

    Analysts had expected earnings of 56 cents per share on revenue of 16.19 billion dollars, according to Thomson Reuters.

    "We delivered strong financial(金融的) results despite a mixed PC environment, which demonstrates the strength and breadth of our businesses," Peter Klein, chief financial officer at Microsoft, said in a statement.

    "Consumers are purchasing Office 2010, Xbox and Kinect at tremendous rates, and businesses of all sizes are purchasing Microsoft platforms and applications," he added.

    Revenue at four of Microsoft's five major divisions posted double-digit growth in the quarter, indicating the increase of technology spending by enterprises as well as strong demand for the company's entertainment products.

    The entertainment and devices division saw the biggest revenue growth of 60 percent, which according to Microsoft, were driven by strong demand for its Kinect hands-free motion control system for Xbox 360 and continued strong sales of Xbox 360 console.

    However, revenue for the division of the company's flagship Windows operating system dropped 4 percent in the quarter, which Microsoft said was "in line with the PC trends."The performance of the Windows division may fuel new concerns that Microsoft's dominance in software for PCs is being threatened by Apple's iPad and tablet computers running other operating systems, some analysts noted⁴.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。