Kinect Helps Boost Second-Quarter for Microsoft

"Cameras! Cameras for everybody!" Is what we imagine Microsoft was screaming when its second-quarter FY 2011 data was compiled and released last week. For the second-straight quarter, Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division--which houses the Xbox platform--increased its revenue versus the same period in 2009.

Though profits for the quarter were slightly down for the company overall versus last year, the company boasted a net income of $6.63 billion.

At the top of Microsoft's "Thank You" list? Its Kinect peripheral, which sold 8 million units within sixty days of launch. "We are enthusiastic about the consumer response to our holiday lineup of products, including the launch of Kinect," Microsoft CFO Peter Klein said in the released earnings report. Microsoft had originally anticipated to sell 3 million Kinect units before increasing its forecast to 5 million prior to the holiday season.

Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices division saw a 55 per cent increase in revenue versus the year-over-year fiscal growth of its second quarter.

The division made up for $3.6B of Microsoft's staggering $19.95B total revenue for the quarter, ending December 31, 2010.