Microsoft Corp. said Thursday its net income in the most recent quarter rose 35 per cent, helped by strong sales of Windows 7.

Microsoft has become the latest company to benefit from what seems to be a rebound in business spending on technology after the economic downturn.

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Microsoft makes most of its money selling the Windows computer operating system, Office programs and other business software. The company says Windows 7, its newest version, now runs on 10 per cent of PCs.

For the January to March fiscal third quarter, Microsoft earned $4 billion US, or 45 cents per share. That's higher than the 42 cents per share forecast by analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. It's up from $3 billion, or 33 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenue rose six per cent to $14.5 billion.