Apple: the Numbers Behind the (Huge) Numbers

Apple sold 37 million iPhones, which Cook pointed out represents 128 percent growth against a market rate of 40 percent, according to IDC . He attributed the growth to the "breathtaking" reception of iOS 5, the phone's camera and its voice-activated virtual assistant Siri. "Our customers are loving iPhone, and we're very happy with that," he said.

The iPhone 4S is available in more than 90 countries, making it Apple's fastest rollout ever. Cook said Apple ended the quarter with a significant backlog in some key geographies, despite its "bold bet" on strong 4S demand.

Apple sold 15.4 million iPads and saw unprecedented growth for the tablets in enterprises and educational institutions. Cook says the iPad will cannibalize the personal computer market, including Macs, but that doesn't worry him, nor does the rising tide of low-cost competition.

"People who want an iPad won't settle for limited functionality," Cook said. "Last year was supposed to be the year of tablets, but I think most people will agree it was the year of the iPad for the second year in a row."

In total, there have been 315 million iOS devices sold to date, 62 million of them sold in the December quarter.

Apple iCloud now has 85 million customers signed up. "It's not just a product; it's a strategy for the next decade," Cook said.

Apple's App Store now has 550,000 apps available, 170,000 of which are designed specifically for the iPad. Cook said developers have earned more than $4 billion from the App Store, more than $700 million of which came in the past quarter.

— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile