It has been a market that four years ago didn’t exist. Today, a market that Apple created in tandem with the launch of its eponymous iPhone, has achieved 10 billion downloads.
Apple revealed over the weekend that more than 10bn apps have been downloaded from its App Store by more than 160m iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users worldwide.
The 10 billionth app downloaded, Paper Glider, was purchased by Gail Davis of Orpington, Kent, UK. As the winner of the App Store Countdown to 10 Billion Apps, Davis will receive a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card.
Apps Store has revolutionised how software is created and sold
“With more than 10bn apps downloaded in just two and a half years — a staggering 7bn apps in the last year alone — the App Store has surpassed our wildest dreams,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice-president of Worldwide Product Marketing.
“The App Store has revolutionised how software is created, distributed, discovered and sold. While others try to copy the App Store, it continues to offer developers and customers the most innovative experience on the planet.”
The App Store offers more than 350,000 apps to iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users in 90 countries around the world, with more than 60,000 native iPad apps available.
App Store customers can choose from a range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.
