Reporting surprisingly strong results for the January-March quarter, Microsoft revealed on Thursday that it had witnessed a 4 percent increase – to $4.6 billion – in its revenue at Microsoft's Windows division, as compared to the same quarter last year figures.

With the reported results marking only the second time in the last six quarters that Microsoft’s Windows unit has registered a year-over-year gain, the company attributed the robust quarterly profit to the fact that an increased number of businesses had bought licenses for Windows 7.

The profit which Microsoft reported for its Windows division during the quarter – which was Microsoft’s fiscal third quarter - has not only delighted the investors, but has also defied the conventional belief that the company would face difficulties in selling Windows licenses.

Market watchers and experts were of the opinion Microsoft’s Windows division will probably be hit by the fact that an increasing number of consumers are going in for tablet computers, like the market-leading Apple iPad; and also because most of the potential PC buyers were apparently postponing their purchases till Microsoft launches its next Windows version.

However, with the Windows division propelling a pleasant surprise and holding up much better than anticipated, and with high hopes pinned on the forthcoming Windows 8 version, Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer said: "We're driving toward exciting launches across the entire company, while delivering strong financial results."