Microsoft reveals $5.1bn profits for Q1 "The Windows beat was a positive surprise, looking at about 4pc growth, versus expectations for about a 4pc decline," said Josh Olson, an analyst at Edward Jones. Microsoft is betting that Windows 8, the next version of the operating system, will help it wrestle market share from Apple in the fast-growing tablet market. The system will be compatible with far more of the tablets that are competitors to the iPad.The software maker has not said when it will release Windows 8, but is is widely expected to be available in the autumn. However, the quarter saw sales at Microsoft's entertainment division, which includes the Xbox videogame console, fall 16pc. Sales at its online services division, meanwhile, rose 6pc in a sign that its heavy investment in Bing, its rival to Google, may be reaping some benefit. Having closed at $31.95 in normal trading in New York on Thursday, the shares climbed 3pc in extending trading.