Apple hits milestone – 15 billion app downloads, 200 million iOS users

Major Apple announcement

Today, Apple announced that not only have they hit the 200 million user milestone, but those users have downloaded over 15 billion apps from the Apple App Store.

These numbers are comprised of all iOS devices including iPhone and iPad apps downloaded. In a statement, Apple noted that the App Store currently offers over 425,000 apps which is quickly nearing the half million mark. Impressively, the App Store already boasts over 100,000 native iPad apps.

Across the globe, across categories

The applications have been downloaded in 90 countries across the globe, and the App Store offers 20 categories to meet personal and professional needs from games, news, education, sports, health, reference and travel.

Despite developers complaining that Apple takes too big of a split in their app profits, Apple has paid developers over $2.5 billion to date for apps developed on the iOS platform.

Apple profits have risen rapidly this year, and Apple jumped 21 spots to be #35 in the Fortune 500.

From the mouth of Apple

“In just three years, the revolutionary App Store has grown to become the most exciting and successful software marketplace the world has ever seen,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Thank you to all of our amazing developers who have filled it with over 425,000 of the coolest apps and to our over 200 million iOS users for surpassing 15 billion downloads.”

Apple versus Android

The popularity of Android devices has made Android Apple’s new top competitor, and they continue to be neck in neck with market share, but analysts continue to point out that more apps are being downloaded and developed on this operating system on this month and on another the next month, but the bottom line is that smartphone devices including tablets is becoming mainstream and the flip phones without internet are being delegated out of the professional world.