While we regularly lament Windows Phone not doing better compared to the rest of the smartphone market, there is one interesting fact which is often overlooked – the business is actually making Microsoft money, and not an inconsiderable amount.

According to their financials released today, over the last 9 months the Phone Hardware business has generated $6.29 Billion in revenue and a whopping $805 million in profit.

Even in Q1 2015, the slowest quarter, the business only lost $4 million, likely in large part due to the strengthening dollar, which rose 27% compared to last year and which meant sales generated un Euros and other world currencies would be worth less when translated into $ figures.

While phones are far from Microsoft’s strongest business, they are still doing a lot better than Sony, who lost $1.4 billion in 2014.

Hopefully further sales growth (sales are up 18% YoY so far) will make the Windows Phone business as a venture self-evident and clearly self-sustaining, which would be an outcome I think myself and many of our other readers can live with.