Microsoft Windows, affected by the decline in PC sales

Microsoft logo is seen during the 2015 Microsoft ConferenceImage copyrightGetty Images assembly
Quarterly profit of Microsoft missed analysts' estimates as a continuation of the recession hurt sales of personal computers Windows kernel, the company's business.

of the company's net income fell to $ 3.76bn (£ 2,6 billion) in the third quarter compared with $ 4.99bn a year earlier.

Its shares fell more than 4% after the close of trading hours.

Revenue in the business cloud, which includes the Azure, rose 3.3% to $ 6.1 billion, but operating income in the division decreased by 14%.

"We would like to see 7% to 9% growth," said Dan Morgan, a portfolio manager at Synovus Trust, which owns Microsoft shares, said cloud revenue.

"We are trying to verify the story that Microsoft is really getting us the cloud, and they will not have to rely on a desktop computer."

'Gaining momentum'

The software giant's revenue fell to $ 20.53bn from $ 21.73bn, less than analysts had expected $ 22.09bn.

Continued weakness hobbled demand for licenses in the personal computer market single for some of its products, the company said.

While some analysts crave more growth from Microsoft, other analysts are taking wait-and-see approach.

"Microsoft's cloud business is gaining momentum, and sales in the market, so I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for the lost external expectations this quarter," said Matt McIllwain, venture capitalist Madrona Venture Group, which closely monitors Microsoft.

Chief Executive Satya NadellaImage copyrightGetty Images from Microsoft
Image captionMicrosoft executive director Nadella has been focused on cloud computing services
Cloud shift

Kevin Turner, chief operating officer of Microsoft said: "The digital transformation is the number one priority on the agenda of the Company's customers from large enterprises established in new startups are turning to our cloud solutions to help them move faster and generate new revenue streams.".

Nadella Microsoft CEO has focused on the development of cloud-based business of the company, since he took over in early 2014, with its "mobile first, cloud first" strategy.

Earlier this week, the American manufacturer of chips Intel said it reduced the 12,000 jobs mainly due to lower demand in the PC market. Intel also said it wants to "accelerate the evolution of the PC company to one that powers the cloud and billions of smart, connected computing devices."