Company saw strong growth in U.S. software sales Enterprise software provider SAP AG reported a 25 percent year-on-year increase in net profit for the third quarter of 2003 Thursday, although total revenue changed little from the year-earlier quarter.SAP, in Walldorf, Germany, also revised its full-year projections upward, saying that it expects its pro-forma earning per share to be closer to €3.60 ($4.19) per share than €3.45, excluding stock-based compensation and charges related to acquisitions and impairments.The company reported net income of €252 million ($292 million as of Sept. 30, the last day of the period reported), up from €202 million in the corresponding quarter last year, for earnings per share of €0.81. Total revenue for the quarter was €1.65 billion, down 3 percent from the €1.7 billion reported in the year-earlier quarter, the company said. On a constant currency basis, however, revenue rose 3 percent.SAP saw revenue gains from its maintenance activities, up 9 percent to €655 million, but software revenue for the quarter remained flat at €433 million, compared to €435 million a year earlier. Revenue from service activities including training and consulting slipped 14 percent to €550 million.Around the world, SAP saw the strong growth in software sales in the U.S., where software revenue for the third quarter was 35 percent up on a year earlier, or 54 percent on a constant-currency basis. Throughout the Americas, revenue slipped 2 percent to €572 million, or a rise of 11 percent on a constant-currency basis. Revenue in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) slipped 4 percent to €877 million, and remained flat in the Asia-Pacific region, the smallest region for SAP with revenue of €203 million. Software Development