Xbox boosts Microsoft

Microsoft's first-quarter results have exceeded expectations.

Net profit, operating income and revenue was up 11% from a year ago. The software maker said its profit for its fiscal second quarter was $3.48bn (€2.7bn), or 35c a share, compared to $3.14bn (€2.5bn), or 29c a share, a year earlier, when earnings were hurt by a legal charge of 2c a share.

Revenue for the period ended Sept. 30 was up 11% to $10.81bn (€8.5bn). By comparison, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial were expecting earnings of 31 cents a share on revenue of $10.75bn (€8.5bn).

Microsoft said sales of its Xbox 360 game device helped boost its revenues.

"It was a very good start to what we are expecting to be an excellent year," said Microsoft chief financial officer Chris Liddell said.

Microsoft employs more than 1,200 people full time and 700 full-time contract staff in Dublin.