Apple has posted a smaller-than-expected six percent rise in quarterly revenue, but the good news was that revenue in that period surged 28 percent in greater China despite stiff competition in its third-largest market.<br /><br />Thanks to a strong performance in the vital for the future Asian market, the tech giant sold 35.2 million iPhones worldwide in the three months up to June.<br /><br />Chinese iPhones sales jumped about 48 percent and Mac computer sales there rose 39 percent.<br /><br />Chief Executive Tim Cook told analysts on a conference call that Apple’s Chinese performance was “honestly surprising”.<br /><br />However Apple continues to struggle in the more saturated, developed regions of the United States and Europe, its two largest markets.<br /><br />It forecast revenue of $37 billion (27.5 billion euros) to $40 billion (29.7 billion euros) this quarter, is weak compared with Wall Street’s outlook for $40 billion or more.<br /><br />But whether Apple can again produce a revolutionary new product, something it has not done since the iPad in 2010, remains the central question for investors.<br /><br />Many expect Apple to make a play for the wearable device market with a smart watch, dubbed iWatch, or maybe iTime.<br /><br />Analysts also expect the company to introduce two iPhone versions this fall, including a 5.5-inch model that thrusts Apple into the market for larger-sized phones that rival Samsung helped popularise.<br /><br />The iPhone maker, which derives most of its business from the high-end device, reported sales of $37.4 billion (27.8 billion euros) in its fiscal third quarter ended June, falling short of Wall Street’s expectations for about $38 billion (28.2 billion euros).<br /><br />with Reuters
