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Continued ...

In Microsoft's larger businesses, it said the quarter was the biggest one ever for Windows sales, but this was not reflected in the figures because $1.5bn was deferred because of programs offered to PC makers, to encourage them to keep selling Vista PCs in the run-up to the Windows 7 launch. It also pointed to pressure on margins as the balance of PC purchasing shifts to netbooks, and because of weakness in sales of premium editions of Windows for businesses. Windows revenues were down 39% year-on-year and earnings down 52%.

After seeing revenue drops across all five of its businesses last quarter, Microsoft saw growth in its server and tools division. Overall, the giant reported earnings of $3.57bn, or 40 cents a share, down from $4.37bn a year earlier. Revenue declined 14% to $12.92bn.

Meanwhile, Ballmer was doing the rounds of interviews and was drawn by The Wall Street Journal to comment on the iPhone. With an almost visible shrug of the shoulders, he said: "It's another competitor in the market. The number one in smartphones is Nokia." He also said of the App Store: "It's a good thing that they've done, let's show respect where respect is due. Yet it's not turning the market on fire," he said. It's not clear what Ballmer would regard as setting the market on fire in mobile stores, but we can be sure Windows Marketplace for Mobile has not yet done it.

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