Apple Computer yesterday posted quarterly net income that more than tripled, fueled by surging sales of its market-leading iPod digital music players.

For its third quarter ended June 26th, California-based Apple said it had net income of $61 million (€49.28 million), or 16 cents a share, up from $19 million, or five cents a share, in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 30 per cent to $2.01 billion from $1.55 billion.

Excluding two cents a share in restructuring charges, Apple said it had a profit of $67 million, or 17 cents a share.

On that basis, analysts polled by Reuters Estimates had forecast Apple to earn, on average, 15 cents a share, within a range of 13 cents to 16 cents.

Revenue was pegged at $1.94 billion.

Looking ahead, Apple said it expects to post fourth-quarter revenues of $2.1 billion and earnings per share of 16 cents to 17 cents, including one cent per share in restructuring charges.

The other main results for the tech sector last night came from chip maker Advanced Micro Devices which reported a quarterly profit after a loss a year earlier, amid healthier demand for personal computers and cellular phones.

AMD, however, said it expected sales to rise only modestly in the third quarter, and its shares fell 2 per cent in after-hours trading.

In its second quarter, the California-based company reported a profit of $32 million, or 9 cents a share, compared to a year-earlier loss of $140 million, or 40 cents a share.