On the back of what it classes as robust demand for Windows Vista and the Office 2007 system, Microsoft has announced growth in earnings per share of 72%.

With announced revenue for the quarter ending 31st March 2007 being a staggering $14.40 billion US Dollars, Kevin Turner, Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft, cited that the quarter in question was home to the consumer launches of Microsoft's Window Vista operating system, together with the Microsoft Office 2007 system and that the company is delighted with the positive response from customers to the newest iterations of these long running product lines.

Based on Forward-Looking Statements, Microsoft expects revenue for the quarter ending 30th June, 2007 to amount to a sum between $13.1 and $13.4 billion US Dollars, whilst preliminary guidance for the full fiscal year, ending on 30th June, 2008, expects revenue figures in the range of $56.5 to $57.5 billion US Dollars.

Good news for Microsoft shareholders was the $7.72 billion US Dollars that was returned to them via share buybacks and dividends during the quarter in question.

Read the press release in full here.