Music player sales leap 61 per cent to 8.5 million units for the quarter

Apple has posted sales of $4.36bn and profits of $410m for the quarter ending 1 April 2006. Revenues were up 35 per cent year-over-year, while net profit grew 41 per cent, the company stated.

The results reflected a 61 per cent increase in sales of iPod media players, which reached 8.5 million for the quarter. Mac computer sales grew by four per cent to 1.1 million units.

Apple has focused on rejuvenating its computer business in recent months. The company started shipping the first notebook systems powered by Intel processors in January, and unveiled a beta for its Boot Camp application earlier this month, which industry analysts believe could help Apple to grow its market share.

"Our transition to Intel processors is going very well, and our music business just experienced another quarter of outstanding growth," said chief executive Steve Jobs.

Notebooks accounted for the majority of additional Mac sales, showing growth of seven per cent. Apple sold one per cent more desktop systems and Xserve servers compared to the same period last year.

Apple does not disclose sales figures for individual products.