Apple App Store about to hit 25 billion downloads

The Apple App Store has been a phenomenal success and the company is about to reach the 25 billion download mark. It wants to celebrate and reward one lucky fan out there: if you wind up downloading the 25 billionth app for the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, you could win a $10,000 App Store gift card.

Apple did a similar giveaway last year when itcrossed the 10 billion mark in January of 2011. That means it has seen more than 1 billion downloads a month since that time, which is pretty darn impressive.

Apple wasn’t the first company to offer an App Store for a smartphone but its approach has undoubtedly been incredible and game changing. Not only has it brought smartphone apps to the mainstream, the billions of dollars it has paid out has made being a mobile app developer a credible industry and this wasn’t really the case before the iPhone.

The competition has taken notice and is making a furious charge, as the Android Market supposedly surpassed the 10 billion download mark in December of 2011. Android’s sheer volume is very attractive for app makers but we still find that iOS apps tend to be a bit more polished, red-hot apps like Instagram are still exclusive on Apple’s platform and most app companies still think iOS first, then Android.

There’s a countdown on Apple’s website, so go ahead and keep downloading for your chance to win.

<http://www.intomobile.com/2012/02/17/apple-app-store-hit-25-billion-downloads/ >