Microsoft posted a loss of $492 million
Thursday, its first-ever quarterly loss since it became a public
company in 1986.
The loss was attributed to a massive $6.2 billion charge
that the company booked earlier this month as a writedown on its 2007
purchase of online advertising firm eQuantive for $6.3 billion.
For the quarter, Microsoft booked record revenues of $18.06 billion, a rise of 7 percent over the same period a year ago, and
operating income of $6.93 billion.
For Microsoft's 2012 budget year, the company's revenue was $73.72
billion while operating income was $21.76 billion.
"We delivered record fourth-quarter and annual revenue, and we're
fast approaching the most exciting launch season in Microsoft
history," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft. "Over the
coming year, we'll release the next versions of Windows, Office,
Windows Server, Windows Phone, and many other products and services
that will drive our business forward and provide unprecedented
opportunity to our customers and partners."
Microsoft statement:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2012/jul12/07-19fy12Q4earni
ngsPR.aspx
