Microsoft Net Surges 156% During Quarter

Microsoft Corp., the computer software giant, reported a 156% increase in net income and a 90% increase in revenue for the first quarter of its fiscal year.

Income for the quarter, which ended Sept. 30, was $15.8 million. During the same period last year, the company had income of $6.2 million. Revenue rose to $66.8 million from $35.2 million.

The increases were achieved without shipments of any major new retail products, said Jon Shirley, president and chief operating officer of the Redmond, Wash.-based company.

Such products as Microsoft Word Version 3.0, Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Excel gained in market position, he said.

Revenue increased in all product groups, said Frank Gaudette, vice president and chief financial officer. “International revenues continued strong at $27.3 million, representing 41% of total revenues,” he said.

During the first quarter, Digital Equipment announced its decision to offer MS-DOS Version 3.1 and Microsoft Windows for its VAXmate personal computer, and Microsoft announced the Xenix System V-386 Operating System for a Compaq Computer personal computer.

In early October, Microsoft began shipping Microsoft Works for Apple Macintosh systems.