Apple’s Q3 2014 earnings call just wrapped up. While the earnings and sales numbers were announced earlier, here are some important updates to take away from the call itself:
Highlights
- Over 20 million people streamed the WWDC keynote in June.
- Apple is receiving a great response to their iOS and OS X upgrades.
- Swift will allow for new possibilities in development, and open development to new people.
- Earnings per share are up by the highest rate in 7 quarters.
- Apple has made 29 acquisitions other than Beats since fiscal 2013.
- Apple values the Beats acquisition for their talent, “growing lineup of products,” and the music streaming service.
iPhone

- iPhone sales are up 55% from last year in Brazil, China, India, and Russia.
- iPhone sales are higher than ever for Q3.
- Japanese tax increases and regulations dampened smart phone market, including iPhone.
iPad

- The general tablet market declined, but iPad sales were higher than Apple expected.
- Apple sees enterprise as an “enormous opportunity” for growth with their IBM partnership.
- The Swedish government is using over 100,000 iPads.
- iPad accounts for about 80% of e-commerce purchases.
- Customer satisfaction is very high.
- 50% of iPad buyers are first time iPad owners.
Mac
- Mac sales are up 39% in China.
- Sales are growing in the education market as well.
iTunes Software & Services
- Billings grew 25% from last year, which makes the category Apple’s fastest growing source of revenue.
- 75 billion App Store downloads have been made.
- $20 billion have been sent to developers, with almost half being paid in the last 6 months.