mobileu.co.uk

Apple reveals profit boom ahead of tablet launch

As the world awaits the unveiling of the Apple tablet – dubbed the iSlate, the iPad or the iBook, depending on which reports you read – it's emerged that the iPhone manufacturer has experienced its best-ever financial results in a three-month period.

Ongoing strong demand for the iPhone in the run-up to Christmas has been credited with the profit boom, which saw Apple rake in $15.68 billion (£9.7bn) between October and December last year, an increase of 32 per cent on the same period the previous year.

Overall profits rose by 49 per cent on 2008's figures, helped by more than 8.7 million iPhones being shifted worldwide after it was opened up to a variety of mobile networks.

Announcing the figures, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs gave his first official hint at the hotly-anticipated tablet the world expects to see for the first time tomorrow (27 January).

"The new products we are planning to release this year are very strong, starting this week with a major new product that we're really excited about," he remarked of the device already referred to as the "iPhone on steroids", which is believed to have a ten-inch multi-touch screen.