NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top U.S. phone company AT&T reported a rise in third-quarter revenue and mobile phone subscribers despite a weaker U.S. economy, helped by the popularity of Apple Inc's new iPhone.
Revenue rose 4 percent to $31.3 billion, in line with Wall Street's forecast, according to Reuters Estimates.
Net profit rose to $3.23 billion, or 55 cents a share, from $3.06 billion, or 50 cents a share, a year earlier, the company said on Wednesday.
Earnings excluding items such as merger-related costs fell to 67 cents a share from 71 cents.
The company, the sole U.S. carrier for the iPhone, said it gained 2 million net new subscribers, in line with the average estimate of five analysts polled by Reuters.
AT&T, along with No. 2 player Verizon Communications Inc
(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
