9 little-unknown facts about APPLE

In the final quarter of 2011, when many world leaders were groping for a solution to the crisis in the euro zone to prevent another global recession, the cash counters at Apple Inc were ringing furiously. Every second during that period, the iconic company founded by the late Steve Jobs was adding $1,670 (Rs 82,795) to its profits. With less than half of its cash and equivalents, Apple can buy the entire RIL and more than 90% of ONGC - two of India's most valuable firms. With a market value of $400 billion, Apple is now worth more than Venezuela's annual economic output.

Here are some of Apple's numbers in context:

1.World's most valuable company

$13.1 billion is Apple's profit in the latest quarter. Equaled their revenue in Q4 2010-underlining the pace of its growth, despite its size. A company this big (Apple this week became world's most valuable beating Exxon) is not supposed to be able to nearly double revenue year-on-year. Nor are they supposed to more than double profit. But Apple did both.

2.Apple vs Google

Apple's profits for last quarter exceed Google's entire revenue for last quarter.

3.IBM vs Apple

$108 billion - 35-year-old Apple's revenue at end-FY11. $106 billion - 100-year-old IBM's revenue at FY11 end. In 1981, Apple's revenue stood at $ 335 million, while IBM's revenue in the year was $29 billion. When IBM launched a PC to compete with Apple in 1981, Steve Jobs mocked at IBM with a full page ad in WSJ which said "Welcome, IBM. Seriously"

4.Apple vs Microsoft

It was only in October of 2010 when Apple passed Microsoft in terms of revenue. In the latest quarter, its revenue was more than double of Microsoft.

5.Apple vs Amazon

Apple sold three times as many iPads as Amazon sold Kindle Fires, and at twice the price!

6.iPhone's revenue = Microsoft's revenue

The revenues from just iPhone (one product of Apple) is greater than total revenues of Microsoft. And iPhone was launched only in 2007 end.

7.iTunes earns more revenue than Yahoo

The iTunes Store of Apple alone generated 50% more revenue than all of Yahoo did last quarter.

8.Cash counter

* $97.6 billion in cash and equivalents.

* $64 billion of that is offshore.

* Apple's cash hoard alone is worth more than all but 52 companies on Earth.

9.Profitability

$13 billion Apple's quarterly profit on $46.33 billion revenue.

--ET Bureau