ABI Research expects 6 billion mobile applications forecast
to be
downloaded in 2010, up from an estimated 2.4 billion in 2009.
The rapid
adoption
of smartphones, registering a sales growth of 20% in 2009, as well
as
the proliferation of application stores are the major drivers for
this
expansion. In addition, two new smartphone platforms will make
their
debut later this year; Samsung's Bada OS and Microsoft's Windows
Phone 7
Series. Both platforms, similar to Apple's, will have proprietary
application stores and are racing to populate these stores with
winning
applications.
"Other
platforms are still playing catch-up, with Android being the
fastest
gainer among them. ABI Research expects that with over 30,000
applications now available, over 800 million Android applications
will
be downloaded in 2010."
"The iPhone will continue to be the leading app platform, with a
database of over 125,000 applications offering niche and localized
content," says wireless research associate Bhavya Khanna. "Other
platforms are still playing catch-up, with Android being the
fastest
gainer among them. ABI Research expects that with over 30,000
applications now available, over 800 million Android applications
will
be downloaded in 2010."
Revenues from mobile app sales, however, are expected to decline
by
2012, as competition has led to downward pressure on application
prices;
and a greater proportion of "must-have" applications will begin to
have
free or advertising-supported substitutes. In addition, many
handset
makers such as Nokia, and Motorola with its Android handsets, have
started to bundle applications that allow users to connect to
popular
social networks, instant messaging, and GPS services.
According to Vice President of Forecasting Jake Saunders, "As
competition heats up, app makers are both dropping prices and
'going
free' to stay on top of the download charts."