As everyone prepares to hear how Apple did financially during the first fiscal quarter of 2010, analysts are releasing numbers on the Cupertino, Calif. company’s success during the fourth quarter of 2009. IDC said Apple’s U.S. sales rose 31 percent for the quarter, a day after Gartner researchers announced a 24 percent jump.
Apple’s 31 percent growth rate was higher the most computer makers, who saw a 24 percent jump during that three-month period, according to IDC. The Mac maker is in fifth plan, selling 5.6 million Macs for 8 percent of the market, according to IDC.
Despite the economic downturn, PC sales in the U.S. “exploded,” driven by what IDC termed a “rubber-band” effect after PC buying contracted a year ago. Also propelling sales were low-priced desktop and notebook computers.
“Once again, the consumer market overcame the weak commercial sector to save the quarter,” said David Daoud, research manager for IDC’s U.S. Quarterly Pc Tracker.
On Wednesday, Gartner released its own figures, showing Apple shipped 1.4 million computers during the fourth quarter of 2009, a 24 percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2008, when the computer maker shipped 1.2 million Macs. Apple’s market share dipped slightly during the fourth quarter to 7.5 percent, down from 7.7 percent a year ago.
Apple will announce revenue for the first quarter of 2010on Jan. 25. The company could report earning $11.98 billion, an 18 percent increase over last year.
[Via 9to5Mac and Wall Street Journal]
