America Online Inc., the world’s leading Internet service provider, posted record fiscal first-quarter revenues Wednesday on surging membership subscriptions and rising electronic-commerce revenues.
AOL also unveiled a strategic alliance with Gateway Inc., the leading U.S. personal computer-maker, the companies said in a separate announcement.
Dulles-based AOL beat analysts’ consensus estimate of 13 cents per share, reporting fully taxed net income of $184 million, or 15 cents per diluted share, up from $50 million, or 4 cents per diluted share, in the year-earlier period.
Revenues in the quarter, ended Sept. 30, jumped 47 percent, to $1.47 billion. The growth was fueled by $995 million in subscription revenue and $350 million in advertising, commerce and other revenues.
The company’s flagship AOL service added a first-quarter record of nearly 1.1 million net new members worldwide, ending the quarter with 18.7 million members worldwide.
In the alliance with Gateway, AOL will be marketed on all new Gateway computers. The companies also will create a co-branded on-line software store.
