Microsoft 4Q net income surges 48 percent

REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft says its net income surged 48 percent in the most recent quarter, the latest sign that businesses are again spending money on technology.

Microsoft's results were stronger than Wall Street had expected.

Big businesses stopped replacing aging computers, servers and software during the worst of the recession. Microsoft Corp. makes the majority of its money from selling Windows software for PCs and servers, plus Office and other business software.

Windows sales ballooned in the quarter, particularly in copies for businesses. That helped Microsoft's net income jump to $4.52 billion, or 51 cents per share.

Revenue rose 22 percent to $16.04 billion.