Android has overtaken Apple’s iOS as the leader in mobile app downloads, according to research firm ABI research.
The company reports that in Q2 2011 Android’s market share of downloaded apps stood at 44%, well ahead of Apple’s 31%. In total ABI reckons 29 billions apps will be downloaded by the end of 2011, up from 9 billion in 2010.
Lim Shiyang, research associate at ABI said Android’s openness and the resulting wider variety of apps has given it the edge of Apple’s iOS. "Being a free platform has expanded the Android device install base, which in turn has driven growth in the number of third party multi-platform and mobile operator app stores. These conditions alone explain why Android is the new leader in the mobile application market."
The company also says Android is growing at a much faster rate than iOS, even considering Apple’s record-breaking launch of the iPhone 4S.
IPhone shipment growth in Q2 2011 slowed to 9% from 15% a quarter earlier, the firm said. Android shipments increased 36% in Q2 2011, compared to 20% in Q1 and its installed base exceeds iOS by a factor of 2.4-to-1 worldwide, said ABI. Comparisons such as this are slightly disingenuous given that Android is available of a huge number of devices compared to iOS.
"Despite leading in total mobile application downloads, Android’s app downloads per user still lag behind Apple’s by 2-to-1," adds Dan Shey, practice director, mobile services. "Apple’s superior monetisation policies attracted good developers within its ranks, thus creating a better catalogue of apps and customer experience."
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