° Apple has approximately 32,000 full-time employees, plus about 3,100 temporary equivalent employees and contractors. That's up significantly from the period a year-ago period when the company reported 21,600 full-time employees, and 2,100 temps.

° Apple’s research and development budget is also rising (when collaborates CEO Steve Jobs' contention that the company would innovate its way through these tough economic times). In 2008, the R&D budget was $1.1 billion, up 41 percent from $782 million in 2007. (Not included in the 2008 total are $11 million in software development costs related to next year's Mac OS X 10.6 -- "Snow Leopard.")

° This year Apple has expanded its international reach. Although no market besides the U.S. comprised of more than 10 percent of the company’s sales, the Americas segment consisted of 45 percent of revenues, dropping from 48 percent a year ago. Apple breaks down revenues for Europe, Japan and Asia Pacific. In 2008, net sales in Europe increased 40 percent over 2007, but remains 23 percent of total net sales. Japan net sales increased $427 million or 39 percent compared to 2007. Sales in the company’s “other segments,” which includes Asia Pacific, also experienced an increase.

° Apple now has 247 retail stores, including 205 in the US and 42 internationally, compared to 197 stores, 174 in the US and 23 in Canada, Japan, UK, and Italy, in 2007. The company's goal for the stores is to expand its installed base by selling its products to people who don't already own Apple products.

° Tony Fadell, the "father of the iPod" who is leaving his full-time position at Apple but serving in an advisory capacity, will be granted 77,500 restricted stock units that will vest in full on March 24, 2010, subject to his continued employment with the company through the vesting date and further subject to accelerated vesting if the Company terminates his employment without cause."

° Apple "has accumulated a portfolio of several thousand issued patents in the U.S. and worldwide."

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