Microsoft claims that sales of Windows Vista are chugging steadily onward, and have now passed the 140 million mark. But that wasn"t enough to help Microsoft extend its string of lights-out quarterly financial performances.
In its fiscal third quarter earnings call Thursday, Microsoft met the Street"s expectations but saw quarterly profit drop 11 percent from the year-ago quarter. However, the results were skewed by Microsoft"s booking of $1.7 billion in deferred revenue from its Express Upgrade to Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee programs as well as pre-shipments of Vista and Office 2007. Microsoft"s overall profit dipped to $4.39 billion, or 47 cents per share, compared to $4.93 billion, or 50 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. Thomson Financial analysts had been expecting profit of 44 cents per share.