A recent study conducted by Gartner, Inc. shows that free apps will account for nearly 89 percent of total mobile app downloads in 2012. The research firm also predicted that global mobile app store downloads for 2012 will exceed 45.6 billion. Free and paid downloads, Gartner estimates, will be 40.1 billion and 5 billion, respectively.
"In terms of the apps that consumers are buying, 90 percent of the paid-for downloads cost less than $3 each," said Sandy Shen, research director at Gartner. "Similar to free apps, lower-priced apps will drive the majority of downloads. Apps between 99 cents and $2.99 will account for 87.5 percent of paid-for downloads in 2012, and 96 percent by 2016."
Apple's App Store has been a prominent market player and source for apps, accounting for close to 25 percent of "available apps in all stores." Gartner expects that Apple, with its massive market share, will have more than 21 billion downloads, a 74 percent increase over 2011 figures. The growth in download figures is indicative of mobile app content's popularity and the trend augurs well for the future.
"The number of apps available is driven by an increasing number of stores in the market today that include platform owners, device vendors, communication service providers (CSPs) and others who want to offer core mobile app services. These stores will see their combined share of total downloads increase, but demand for apps overall will still be dominated by Apple, Google and Microsoft," said Brian Blau, research director at Gartner.
Gartner analyst Sandy Shen sees Amazon as an important market player and sees the e-retailer becoming a strong future contender.
"Amazon has appealed to users with its strong brand, global presence and a good selection of high-quality content while Facebook's recently launched App Center - supporting both mobile devices and desktops - will become a powerful competitor due to its strong brand and leading position in social networking and gaming," said Shen.
Additionally, even though the market trend indicates a leaning towards free and budget-friendly apps, the in-app purchases are expected to drive downloads and app store revenue. Gartner estimates that in-app purchase will drive 41 percent of store revenues in 2016, up from 10 percent (in 2011). Moreover, the in-app purchase downloads will increase from 5 percent (in 2011) to 30 percent in 2016.
"App stores should support in-app purchases as soon as possible as this offers a new path of monetization, and helps to attract developers as they attempt to extend an app's momentum by providing easy access to upgraded services and functionality," noted Brian Blau.
© Copyright 2020 Mobile & Apps, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.most read
more stories from What's App
WhatsApp beta update unlocks direct access to Meta AI via search bar. Explore the latest features and streamline your messaging experience. Update now for enhanced functionality!
ernest hamiltonWhatsApp extends video status length to 60 seconds. Share more of your life's moments with friends and family. Update now for the latest feature!
ernest hamiltonBig news for WhatsApp users! Voice message transcription may soon extend to Android. Stay tuned for enhanced messaging features.
ernest hamiltonPrivacy boost! WhatsApp introduces profile picture privacy feature, blocking screenshots. Safeguard your privacy with this latest update. Update now!
ernest hamiltonWhatsApp gears up for a game-changing update allowing users to send messages from other apps directly. Stay tuned for a revolutionary messaging experience.
ernest hamiltonEngage like never before! WhatsApp Channels unveils 4 exciting features for enhanced brand and celebrity interaction. Explore the future of messaging now!
ernest hamiltonWhatsApp elevates your experience! Now share photos and videos in original quality. Enjoy enhanced sharing today!
ernest hamiltonGoogle plans to delete dormant accounts. Learn how to preserve your Google account and safeguard your data.
ernest hamilton