Other technology vendors, including hardware and software competitor IBM, were much more successful than Sun in the September to December quarter, so much so that IBM boldly declared the end of the IT recession.
For the quarter ended Dec. 31, IBM reported revenue of $25.9 billion, up 9 percent from the $23.7 billion recorded a year earlier. Income for the period was $2.7 billion, or $1.59 per share, compared with $1 billion, or 59 cents per share, for fourth-quarter 2002.
Apple Computer and Intel also had strong quarters, evidence that things might be on the upswing for key companies in the IT industry. Apple reported $2 billion in sales, a four-year high for the company, while Intel more than doubled its net income for the quarter, posting $2.2 billion in earnings on sales of $8.74 billion, a record for the company.
Sun's results were positive enough that Sun Chairman and CEO Scott McNealy remained optimistic Thursday. He said Sun's financials are "on track" so the company can eventually return to profitability, though executives still have no set goal for when that might occur.
McNealy also pointed to increases in Sun's unit volume for the quarter, saying that should continue and eventually pull up Sun's top line.
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