Android Closes in on Apple's App Downloads With its 10 Billionth Download
December 07, 2011
By Monica Gleberman, Contributing Writer
Google (News - Alert) is celebrating its 10th billionth app download and the company announced that to mark the moment, it would cut the prices of some of their top apps to only 10 cents. This celebration comes only three years after the app market launched.
Google announced the it reached the milestone on its blog saying that the store’s apps were being downloaded at a rate of around 1 billion per month. “None of these apps would have existed if it weren’t for the developers,” said Google in a blog post. “Every day, these developers continue to push the limits on what’s possible and delight us in the process. For that we thank them.”
Geoff Blaber, from analyst CCS Insight, told BBC news that Google is looking to surpass Apple (News - Alert). “Apple announced the 15 billion download make in July so it’s clear that Android’s momentum in device activations is translating to application downloads and usage…We’d expect Android (News - Alert) to overtake Apple in application downloads in the first half of 2012,” said Blaber.
In 2011, the Google Android smart phone platform became the world’s most popular platform after taking over the Nokia’s Symbian (News - Alert).
Carolina Milanesi, a Gartner analyst, said there is more to it than just numbers. “The number game matters to the industry watchers and helps advertising, but it’s not changing the bottom line. Quality of the apps and the store in general and curation in particular should be the focus for Google,” Milanesi told BBC.
Milanesi said the increase in interest might increase developers, which is the real key. “This might not impact downloads, but it will eventually impact the revenue opportunities for develops,” said Milanesi.
To celebrate the milestone, Google will offer the tempting promotion – applications that normally cost anywhere from $1 to $10 will be available for only 10 cents. Google will offer a total of 100 applications at this discounted rate over the next 10 days.
The first set of discounted apps included: Asphalt 6 HD, Color & Draw for Kids, Endomondo (News - Alert) Sports Tracker Pro, Paper Camera, and Great Little War Game. New applications will be available at a discounted rate during the promotional period.
Edited by Jennifer Russell