How many apps? The 2011 App markets review
Whatever your smartphone, one great feature is the ability to download apps onto your phone. With an unbelievable range of apps available to us, with categories ranging from entertainment, multimedia, gaming, news, lifestyle and so much more, we really are spoilt for choice. As we download more apps than ever, there’s now more choice than ever to choose from. We uncover just how many apps are available from each app provider and gaze into our crystal ball for what 2012 holds.
The App Store
How many Apps does the App Store have?
The store for iOS devices (iPhones, iPads and iPods), the App Store is still without question the most popular application provider. The App Store has ended 2011 holding onto its crown with over 590,000 apps. This is effectively double the availability compared to the end of 2010 (300,000). Apple remains a popular choice for app developers due to its accessibility across products, from the prestigious iPad to an affordable iPod touch. While Apple keeps rules the App Store with an iron fist ensuring all apps are of high quality and internet safe.
The success and media attention of new releases such as the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 are hard for developers to ignore. In the summer, Apple reported 15 billion app downloads in the history of the App Store.
How many apps in 2012? We predict that by the end of 2012, the App Store will have over 1 million available apps. The highly anticipated releases of both the iPad 3 and iPhone 5 are sure to keep Apple, King of the apps for 2012.
The Android Market
How many Apps does the Android Market have?
The Android Market is currently the most accessible app provider available to 52% of all smartphone users. The Android Markets boasts 320,000 apps is a respectable selection to offer pretty much everything you need. Due to its availability on a wider range of handsets, the Android Market achieved its first 10 billion app downloads this month and is now shifting apps at a monthly rate of one billion.
With such vast demand, developers must be considering the Android Market as a priority for their creations to reach a wider audience. Our 2012 predictions estimate there will be over 500,000 apps on the Android Market by 2012.
How many apps in 2012? We predict the Android Market will average 1.25 billion app downloads per month over 2012, so expect a surge through the 25 billion downloads marker in the history of the Android Market.
Windows Phone Marketplace
New to the block for 2011 is Windows Phone Marketplace, currently offering 40,000 apps. Though Windows Phones are currently few and far between, the release of the Nokia Lumia 800 in November appears a hit and offers a great alternative smartphone. A huge selling point for the OS is its integration with the Xbox 360; offering additional functionality and a range of arcade titles to sink your teeth into. Over the next 12 months we think app developers will be keen to utilise this connectivity to improve and increase how many apps are available to Windows Phone users.
How many apps in 2012? As long as more phones like the Lumia 800 are released with Windows Phone OS, we predict close to 200,000 apps will be available in the Marketplace by the end of 2012.
The Ovi Store
How many Apps does the Ovi Store have?
Currently exclusive to Nokia phones on Symbian browsers, there’s an estimated 30,000 apps available at the Ovi Store. This is quite slow growth in comparison to the 25,000 reported at the end of 2010. With the Nokia Lumia 800 connected to the Windows Marketplace and not the Ovi store, is this end for Ovi?
With Ovi still receiving 4 million downloads daily, expect Nokia to keep the store accessible to handsets with Symbian OS, as this is a huge market for Nokia. To take on the likes of Apple and Samsung in smartphones, Nokia really need to focus their full attention upon their devices with access to the Windows Phone Marketplace.
How many apps in 2012? We predict the total will remain pretty stable over 2012, perhaps 35,000 at most.
Blackberry App World
How many Apps does the BlackBerry App World have?
Our final app provider is available to those using Blackberry OS and currently has over 40,000 apps available. It only seems to be in the last year or two that BlackBerry have finally managed to shake the belief that their smartphones are mainly for business people. With regular releases in the Curve and Bold series, they have become extremely popular with both teens and students alike. With the release of their first tablet, the Blackberry PlayBook, we expect an increase in the amount of apps, particularly games, productivity and entertainment apps will be available at Blackberry App World.
How many apps in 2012? It would be nice to see BlackBerry reaching the 100,000 apps mark by the end of 2012, otherwise they risk being left behind by the likes of iOS and Android and even Windows Phone.
So there we have it, a round up of how many apps each operating system has at the end of 2011 and its clear there has never been a better time to own a smartphone. Here at e2save, we think that the ‘Great App War’ is really going to heat up in 2012.
So… just how many apps will separate the Android Market and iOS? Expect it to be tighter than ever! How many apps will be downloaded next year? Whatever the final figures, it’s sure to destroy all existing records.