3G iPhone sales blew away estimates to hit 6.9 million, fuelling a boom quarter for Apple. 

Profit surged 26% for the three months to September 27, compared to the same quarter last year, edging ahead of analysts' estimates to hit $US1.14 billion. 

Sales leapt to $US7.9 billion,  27% ahead of same period last year, but were behind expectations.

The 3G iPhone's 6.9 million sal the first-generation iPhone sold 6.1 million units over its 12-month lifespan and, crucially, ahead of RIM's BlackBerry, which signed 6.1 million new subscribers for its quarter ended August 30.

The company also sold a record 2.6 million Macs and 11.1 million iPod during the quarter defying expectations of a slow down. But in a statement announcing the results, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer confirmed recent speculation that tougher times are ahead.

Guidance for the December quarter was even more cautious than analysts had been expecting, with sales expected to come in between $US9 and $US10 billion, and profit per share at somewhere between $US1.06 and $US1.35, well below Wall Street's already revised-down consensusof $US1.65.

CEO Steve Jobs says the wide guidance range reflects that he's unsure how the recession will affect Apple, which he says has the strongest product line in its history, $US25 billion in the bank, and no debt.

Jobs also highlighted Apple's AppStore, pushed with the 3G iPhone, which has now clocked 200 million downloads and is bringing in $US1 million revenue a day as customers use it to buy then intall new software for their mobiles.

The results were announced after the NASDAQ closed. Apple shares were down 7.75% in regular trading, but climbed more than 11% in after hours trading.