Yesterday Apple announced that more than three billion apps have now been downloaded from its App Store. There are now more than 85,000 apps available, to the more than 60 million devices.

This is particularly impressive when you consider that the App store has only been in existence for 18 months. The rate is accelerating as the 2 billion downloads milestone was only in October. Currently there are over 10 million apps downloaded each and every day.

Reason for Success

The App Store really has reinvented what you can do with a mobile handheld device. In addition a large part of the store's success is perfection of the impulse purchase. It's ridiculously easy to find an app while you're in line at the bank for instance and hit "buy!" Why not, it's only two euro!

The Competition

None of them will be catching up any time soon. The statistics speak for themselves;

• 800 apps available for Palm Pre


• 4,000 apps available for BlackBerry,


• 18,000 available for devices running Google Android

This is a drop in the ocean compared to where the Apple App store currently is.

What Does It Mean for Businesses?

• There is a huge, and growing, international market that can easily be reached.


• You will instantly open your product/service to a global market the world over.


• It is a new channel to engage with existing customers.


• A more cost effective way to provide a service to existing customer base.


• Association with one of the most iconic brands in the world today.

If you are thinking about bringing an app to market, I am available to discuss, advise and work on potential projects. Feel free to get in touch.