Apple Inc.’s (Cupertino, Calif.) announced a 78 percent surge in profit, buoyed by holiday purchases of iPads, iPhones and Mac computers, this past holiday. The electronics retailer reports sales gained 71 percent to a record $26.7 billion.
In the first quarter ended Dec. 25, Apple sold 7.33 million iPads, 16.2 million iPhones, 4.13 million Mac computers and 19.5 million iPod media players. Revenue would have risen more had the company been able to build more iPhones, chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer said.
Next month, Verizon Wireless will become a carrier of the iPhone, with the potential to double the U.S. customer base for the phone.
The company also reported that ceo Steve Jobs is taking medical leave. Apple’s day-to-day operations go to chief operating officer Tim Cook.