Microsoft profits jump as Windows 7 takes over the world

By MARTINA LEES
Updated: 09:34 EST, 27 April 2010

Microsoft profits surged by more than a third as one in ten computers worldwide now runs its Windows 7 operating system.

The software giant made $4billion in profit in the third quarter - up 35pc from the same period last year.

It said it also saw 'strong growth' in its Bing search engine and Xbox LIVE, which allows multiple online gamers to play against one another.

Top seller: Businesses are starting to update computers with Windows 7 after steering clear of Windows Vista

Chief operating officer Kevin Turner said Microsoft is also seeing 'tremendous interest' in its cloud services, which lets businesses store data and software on the internet instead of on individual computers.

Third-quarter sales hit a record high of $14.5billion, 6pc more than a year ago.

The company said more than 10pc of all PCs now have Windows 7, making it 'by far the fastest-selling operating system in history'.

'Business customers are beginning to refresh their desktops,' Turner added.

Until now most businesses have refrained from updating to the unsuccessful Windows Vista, released in 2006, and chose instead to keep running Windows XP.