Google recentlyannounced that Google Play, its app platform, reached 25 billion downloads, proving the Android platform's competitiveness with iOS. The company is also launching an 75 percent off sale in the app store to mark the occasion.  The sale is planned to last for five days, with high-demand games available at budget prices.

Heading to Google Play revealed that Cut the Rope and World of Goo, among other games, are available for under a dollar. 

The sale is probably a move to bring users over to Android, contrasting Apple's reluctance to offer widespread price cuts. Instead, Apple is known to award gift cards to users who download a landmark app (such as the 25 billionth).

Apple's App Store reached 25 billion downloads in March 2011. Previous results have indicated that the two platforms are close in terms of app submissions: iOS sees over 700 apps submitted per day, compared to over 600 on Android. iOS offers 700,000 apps in its market; Android's Google Play is just behind at 675,000.  Considering that Apple launched the App Store before Google launched what was then called Android Market, this demonstrates Android's quick growth.

App submissions are an important indicator of a platform's success; promising platforms like webOS failed to gain developer support, a problem RIM and Microsoft are also experiencing.

It also highlights the pressure Microsoft may be under later this year after Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 launch. Windows Phone reportedly offers around 100,000 apps in its Store, lagging behind iOS and Android. Microsoft wants developers to build apps simultaneously for its mobile and PC platforms, putting more pressure on developers to succeed. Microsoft's integration of user interfaces is a move Apple already made to develop consistency across iPhones and iPads, unlike Android.

Windows 8 launches on Oct. 26.