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| Microsoft suffers first sales dip | Microsoft suffers first sales dip |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Microsoft has said sales in the first three months of 2009 fell 6% from the previous year - its first quarterly drop in 23 years as a public company. | Microsoft has said sales in the first three months of 2009 fell 6% from the previous year - its first quarterly drop in 23 years as a public company. |
| The world's largest software maker said profit dropped by 32% to $2.98bn (£2bn). Sales slipped to $13.65bn. | The world's largest software maker said profit dropped by 32% to $2.98bn (£2bn). Sales slipped to $13.65bn. |
| Microsoft makes most of its profit selling the Windows operating system and business software such as Office. | Microsoft makes most of its profit selling the Windows operating system and business software such as Office. |
| However demand has been hit by falling sales of personal computers as consumers and businesses trim spending. | However demand has been hit by falling sales of personal computers as consumers and businesses trim spending. |
| "We expect the weakness to continue through at least the next quarter," said the firm's chief financial officer, Chris Liddell. | |
| 'On track' | |
| Microsoft - which became a public company in 1986 - has been looking at ways of cutting costs. | Microsoft - which became a public company in 1986 - has been looking at ways of cutting costs. |
| In January, it said it would cut up to 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months, including 1,400 immediately. | In January, it said it would cut up to 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months, including 1,400 immediately. |
| Microsoft's fall in profit was more severe than analysts had been expecting. | |
| "There's stuff to be happy with - they're controlling costs and getting that under control," said Kim Caughey, a senior analyst with Fort Pitt Capital. | |
| "The bad thing is demand and consumer preference seems to have affected their top line." | |
| Shares in Microsoft rose by 4% in after-hours trading - possibly reassured by comments from the firm that it was on track to release the next version of its operating system, Windows 7, during its 2010 financial year. |