Ten billion is a big number. Google Tuesday celebrated 10
billion downloads from the Android Market, approximately three
years after the Market's launch. It took the Android Market 20
months to reach its first billion downloads. Then the pace picked
up. It took just five months to reach the second billion; two
months to climb from 2 billion to 3 billion; two months more to
reach 4.5 billion; and another two months to jump from 4.5 billion
to 6 billion. In the last four months the number of downloads
jumped from 6 billion to 10 billion.
"None of these apps would have existed if it weren't for the
developers who created them," 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."
Google is so happy with the big milestone that it is offering a
tempting promotion. It's selling some applications that normally
cost between USD 1 and USD 10 for a mere 10 cents each. Google will
offer a total of 100 applications over the next 10
days--introducing 10 new apps every day--at the near-giveaway
price.
The first batch of 10-cent apps includes: Asphalt 6 HD, Color
& Draw for Kids, Endomondo Sports Tracker Pro, Fieldrunners HD,
Great Little War Game, Minecraft, Paper Camera, Sketchbook Mobile,
Soundhound Infinity, and Swiftkey X. A different set of 10 apps
will be available tomorrow.
Currently, the Android Market offers more than 300,000 apps. That
includes apps for both Android smartphones and Android tablets.
Android users also can install apps from sources other than the
Android Market, which means the total number of app downloads to
Android devices could be significantly higher.
In comparison, Apple's iPhone App Store launched in July 2008.
It took only two and half years--January 2011--for iPhone, iPod
Touch, and iPad users to download 10 billion apps for their iOS
devices. (The 10 billionth app downloaded was Paper Glider,
purchased by Gail Davis of Orpington, Kent, U.K.)
In July, three years after launch, Apple's iPhone App Store
reached 15 billion downloads. Again, that includes downloads to the
iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
Given Android's stronger sales figures over the last few
quarters, the question now is how long will it take Android device
users to close the gap with their iOS-using peers? Probably not
long at all.
Source: InformationWeek USA