Android app downloads surpass iOS

Research firm ABI‘s Mobile Application Research Service recently released some interesting stats on global app downloads. Of all the apps downloaded in the 2nd quarter of this year, Android owners account for 44% of the market share, with iOS devices accounting 31%. In 2009 Android apps accounted for just 11% of global market share, without the iOS domination continuing into (August) 2010 with a 52% market share. For the first time Android apps have overtaken the iOS platform for app downloads.

“Android’s open source strategy is the main factor for its success,” says Lim Shiyang, research associate. “Being a free platform has expanded the Android device install base, which in turn has driven growth in the number of third party multi-platform and mobile operator app stores. These conditions alone explain why Android is the new leader in the mobile application market.”

Part of this could be due to the low shipments in the 2nd quarter for iPhone, which fell to 9%, down from 15% in the previous quarter. In the same period Android smartphone shipments increased to 36%. However, much of this could be down to the fact that people around th eworld were waiting for the iPhone 4S, which after release has already broken sales records. I guess the year end figures may well reverse for which platform has the highest app downloads.

Despite the market share increase, Apple owners still download more apps per Android users by a factor of 2 to 1. “Apple’s superior monetization policies attracted good developers within its ranks, thus creating a better catalog of apps and customer experience,” said Dan Shey, practice director, mobile services. By the year end, the total smartphones install base is expected to increase to 46%, while the number of apps downloaded is expected to be as much as 29 billion worldwide.

About Taimoor Hafeez

From auditing to editing, I now test and analyze the latest gadgets and games instead of the latest financial statements. Both jobs are equally intense and rewarding. In my free time you'll find me raiding in WoW or engineering in TF2.

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