One billion downloads from Apple's App Store

Stephen Withers
Friday, 24 April 2009 04:43

Business IT - Technology

Apple's App Store has logged its one billionth download in less than ten months. The Store makes it easy for iPhone and iPod touch owners to acquire software.

When Apple opened up the iPhone to third-party developers, it also provided a distribution mechanism: the App Store.

Part of the highly successful iTunes Store, the App Store is the only way of adding software without jailbreaking an iPhone. It makes it easy to find, download and install applications, and other mobile device and platform vendors (eg, Microsoft/Windows Mobile, Google/Android and Nokia) are following suit.

One recurring complaint concerns the criteria used to accept or reject individual applications. Some developers object to the way certain classes of application are refused entry (eg, VoIP over 3G) and the occasional seemingly arbitrary rejection.

Conversely, some applications are initially accepted and subsequently rejected after an outcry. The latest example is Baby Shaker, which has the player shake the iPhone to stop a virtual baby crying.

A 30 percent commission is deducted from developers' revenues by Apple to meet the costs of operating the store - and presumably to turn a profit.

The sale of paid applications thus subsidises the free apps, since 30 percent of nothing is nothing.

What about the 'billionth app' competition? Please read on.