The Financial Accounting Standards Board has approved a rule change by a unanimous vote that will help technology companies like Apple book revenue sooner.
The rule change passed by a 5-0 margin Wednesday. It allows companies to record revenue from sales of products such as smart phones that include both hardware and software. Reports of the possibly impending rule change helped boost Apples stock in recent weeks. The rule change wont go into effect until 2011, but companies will be able to implement it sooner.
Thats likely to happen in the case of both Apple and Palm, which will be among the major beneficiaries, according to
While the rule change isnt likely to change the total amount of revenue that Apple receives, it will give investors a better idea of how much a company like Apple is making from quarter to quarter. The rule change will also affect appliance makers who sell their goods with installation and service contracts.
All in all, Steve Jobs should be pleased with the new change. Other tech companies that have been backing the accounting rule change include Cisco Systems, Xerox, Dell, IBM and HP, according to