Mobile app downloads will increase 144 percent during 2011 compared to last year, according to a research firm study.

Ovum is also reporting that app downloads for Android devices will exceed those for Apple (News - Alert) iOS devices for the first time.

“Consumers’ seemingly insatiable demand for mobile applications is set to continue this year, with downloads from app stores increasing around the world,” Ovum (News - Alert) analyst Nick Dillon said in a statement reported by Digital Trends. “The outlook for the longer term is also positive, with consumers set to continue to use apps to add new features to their phones and to access their favorite services on the go.”

Ovum predicts Android will see about 8.1 billion app downloads in 2011, compared to about 6 billion for Apple’s iOS devices.

In 2010, Apple saw 2.7 billion app downloads and Android saw 1.4 billion app downloads, according to Digital Trends.

In addition, by 2016 Android will lead iOS when it comes to app downloads by a two-to-one margin—21.8 billion apps compared to 11.6 billion apps, Digital Trends said.

Ovum also predicts that iTunes Store app revenue will be $2.86 billion by 2016, compared to $1.6 billion for Android, Digital Trends adds.

And by 2015, Windows Phone will be in third place for app downloads, passing RIM’s BlackBerry (News - Alert) platform, Ovum said.

In a related matter, TMCnet reported recently that an In-Stat (News - Alert) study, Mobile Applications & Services, predicts that by 2015, mobile application downloads will reach nearly 48 billion. Apple and Android users are more likely to download mobile apps than BlackBerry users, TMCnet adds based on the study.

TMCnet also reported that Apple owners are downloading a larger number of apps in 2011 – and the prices they are buying them for are higher than during last year. According to a study by Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, an “average” iOS device owner is expected to download 83 apps during 2011. This same “average” owner in 2010 downloaded 51 apps. That represents a 61 percent increase year versus year, TMCnet adds.

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