Apple’s App Store, the platform through which users download both free and paid apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, is about to get its ten billionth download.
The App Store has seen phenomenal growth in recent years. At the end of September 2009 the App Store reached the 2 billion downloads landmark. By the end on January 2010 that number reached 3 billion. That has since tripled over the last year to reach its current total which is approaching 10 billion.
The support from developers for Apple’s products has been a key driver in the sales of the company’s mobile devices. The App Store currently has over 270,000 apps available.
Apps are also a key delivery system for mobile advertising. In-app advertising is driving growth for Apple’s iAds platform.
Similarly, the sophistication of today’s apps has seen growth in mobile e-commerce, as recently demonstration by the mobile sales generated through the apps of both Amazon and eBay.
To mark the occasion, Apple will give away a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card to the user who downloads the ten billionth app.
