Microsoft NZ suffers fall in revenue

Microsoft New Zealand's revenues have fallen, possibly for the first time since the subsidiary was founded in 1991.

The company reported revenues of $53.5 million in the year to July 2, down slightly from $54.1 million the previous year, The Dominion Post reported today.

Profit fell from $9.5 million to $7.1 million.

The subsidiary has been obliged to post its results online since 2000 and had previously been growing relentlessly. Last year's turnover was up 24 per cent on 2002.

The total value of Microsoft products sold in New Zealand far exceeds $100 million, but the company is essentially a sales and marketing operation and books only a proportion of the value of sales -- akin to a commission.

- NZPA