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Ron Johnson, Apple's senior vice president for retail, told Reuters that international stores would be an important driver of future sales.

"Today, Apple is about 50% international revenue and about 50% in the US," he said. "We increasingly want to get our retail presence out in the other countries."

The Boston store is the company's second largest after London's Regent Street. The 20,000ft² store has more than 100 Macs on the ground floor, a second level for iPod music players and iPhones and a third entirely for service. It also provides an idea of where Apple's retail strategy is heading.

Concierges great customers in orange shirts bearing the slogan, "I know people" - part of changes made in recent weeks to more thoroughly identify roles played by employees with the colour of their shirts worn in Apple stores.

A sales force of Specialists wear aqua blue, while Genius technicians are in dark blue.

In its latest financial quarter, Apple's retail revenues rose by 74% $1.5 billion, with each of the 200+ stores generating on average $7.1 million.