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Topic: Apple

Android: Over 3 billion apps installed; 350,000 device activations per day

Summary: According to Google there have now been over 3 billion apps installed from the Market. There are also 350,000 activations of new Android devices every day.

James Kendrick

By for Mobile News |

Android falls short in the apps category when compared to Apple's trademarked App Store, but current figures show the Android Market is doing pretty well. According to Google there have now been over 3 billion apps installed from the Market. Most impressively the last billion apps were installed in the last three months, a huge jump in activity (11 million/ day). The app numbers are accompanied by an update from Google that there are now 350,000 activations of new Android devices every day. That puts the platform on a pace to hit over 127 million activations in a year.

Google didn't share any information in the financial conference call about how many of those apps are free apps. Most likely most a few of them but if even a low percentage of the apps installed from the Market are paid, there is some money to be made by app developers. These figures from Google don't include any app installation numbers from the young Amazon Appstore. The Amazon storefront doesn't have many apps on the shelves and likely isn't selling enough to include in Android numbers.

Android tablets don't factor into these numbers in any numbers as companies are only just getting them to market. This year will see a lot of Android tablets go on sale, and it will be interesting to see how it affects these two key metrics for the platform.

Topics: Apple, Android, Apps, Google

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47 comments
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  • RE: Android: Over 3 billion apps installed; 350,000 device activations per day

    3 Billion? Really? Anyone smell something here?
    jmiller1978
    Reply Vote

    • yup

      @jmiller1978 no, nothing smelly. Accept the reality, people are no longer slaves to Apple.
      tatiGmail
      Reply Vote

      • Yep, they became a product for Google.

        @tatiGmail

        And only 3 billion apps downloaded? That is pretty sad. Likewise, only 350,000 activations/day? Given iOS was at 380,000 units delivered/day three to four months back... Android still has a ways to go to catch iOS unit sales and a long way to catch market share.
        Bruizer
        Reply Vote

      • Nop: Android market sales are 1/7 of Apple's Appstore

        @tatiGmail
        DDERSSS
        Reply Vote

    • Yep. An Apple fanboi

      @jmiller1978
      SonofaSailor
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Android: Over 3 billion apps installed; 350,000 device activations per day

        @SonofaSailor
        Nope just not a blind Google fanboy
        jmiller1978
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Android: Over 3 billion apps installed; 350,000 device activations per day

      @jmiller1978
      yes, that includes the crapware installed by Google, Carriers and OEMs by default.
      Ram U
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Android: Over 3 billion apps installed; 350,000 device activations per day

      @jmiller1978 if they have 127M activations in one year, that is only about 26 apps per person, very achievable.
      tgschmidt
      Reply Vote

      • Research to back it up ...

        @tgschmidt <br><br>Back in June of last year a survey conducted by Nielsen was showing Andriod users having downloaded an average of 22 apps per phone:<br><br><a href="http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/the-state-of-mobile-apps/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/the-state-of-mobile-apps/</a><br><br>Considering the data is almost a year old it's very plausible that the number would rise to 26 per phone.
        MisterMiester
        Reply Vote

      • Message has been deleted.

        MisterMiester
        Reply Vote

    • I agree considering a few months ago the story from Google

      @jmiller1978
      was that the head of that division was quite upset that apps weren't moving anywhere near where they wanted them to be, and not even close to Apple.

      So it sounds odd that it's "suddenly" 3 billion.

      Guess those disapointing returns needed [b]something[/b] "positive" to follow up with, even if it's bogus
      Will Farrell
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Android: Over 3 billion apps installed; 350,000 device activations per day

        @Will Farrell Really, maybe you could show us where he publically expressed disappointment?
        slickjim
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Android: Over 3 billion apps installed; 350,000 device activations per day

        @Peter Perry<br><br>All it takes is a simple Google search.<br><br>"Forbes cites Googles Android Platform Manager Eric Chu as saying Google is not happy about the purchases of paid apps."<br><br><a href="http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Google-Apps-Android-Sales-Apps-Revenue-In-App-Purchases,news-9875.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Google-Apps-Android-Sales-Apps-Revenue-In-App-Purchases,news-9875.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Google-Apps-Android-Sales-Apps-Revenue-In-App-Purchases,news-9875.html</a></a><br><br>So just 3 months ago there were complaints by Google about users not paying for Apps. Now they're boasting about the number of downloads? Seem to be a large portion of these downloads are free and customization type apps (widgets, wallpaper, launcher, soundboards etc). Developers have always made it known they're not earning nearly as much as on iOS platform.
        dave95.
        Reply Vote

      • Okay Dave, Now read what Mr. Farrell Posted and read your link.

        @dave95 How does that article in anyway show that their apps,

        "Weren't mvoing anywhere near where they wanted them to be"

        As Mr Farrell Posted...

        I don't see the connection, I can see him saying they want to see more paid apps moving but something like 60% of the Google Market Apps are Ad based so I cannot see where this is inconsistent at all!
        slickjim
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Android: Over 3 billion apps installed; 350,000 device activations per day

        @Peter Perry<br><br>The connection is clear. iOS is the most lucrative platform for developers because its users are more than happy to spend their money on apps. Android users not too much. Apple could not have made it any easier and seamless for users to do so. Google recognizes the problem (with Mr Chu's statement) and is trying to fix it by implementing things like in-app purchase and carrier billing etc. 60% of Android apps could very well be ad-based but if they're not getting the same development interest and users actually purchasing apps, what's the point? Will users be happy with 90% of Android's apps being ad/spam based? <br><br>Take a look at what developers like John Comack are saying when comparing both iOS and Android platforms:<br><br>"Youre just not making money in the Android space as you are in the iOS space, Carmack concluded."<br><br><a href="http://www.cultofmac.com/id-software-ios-game-development-is-addictive-but-android-isnt-worth-it/90397" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.cultofmac.com/id-software-ios-game-development-is-addictive-but-android-isnt-worth-it/90397" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.cultofmac.com/id-software-ios-game-development-is-addictive-but-android-isnt-worth-it/90397</a></a>
        dave95.
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Android: Over 3 billion apps installed; 350,000 device activations per day

      @jmiller1978 Yep, the sweet smell of success!
      slickjim
      Reply Vote

    • Well it's not roses ...

      @jmiller1978

      [i]Anyone smell something here?[/i]

      Yeah, Steve Jobs just sh*t himself.
      MisterMiester
      Reply Vote

      • Pretty Funny!

        @MisterMiester Hahahahaha! Funniest Damn Thing I Read All Day! =D
        slickjim
        Reply Vote

    • &quot;android still has some way to catch ios unit sales&quot; - er no

      @jmiller1978
      Android have already shot into number one position. I was very late to Android, but we have two Android phones in the house now. At least half the people at my work have them, many of my friends have them. And Android only started like what - a year ago? It's going to be the defacto phone OS pretty soon if it isn't already.
      And the apps are just so cool. (really useful as well).
      And android phones are just so cheap now.
      stevey_d
      Reply Vote

      • Err... No. Android still lags iOS sales by a good margin.

        @stevey_d

        3-4 months ago, iOS was selling 380,000 units/day. So how, exactly has Android shot past iOS with it only activating 350,000 units/day?

        Android started in October of 2008 much longer than 1 year ago.

        The Android Market is only 4 months younger than the App Store.

        Sorry to hear about your two Android purchases based on poor data.
        Bruizer
        Reply Vote
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