Apple’s App Store Downloads Hit 3 Billion

Apple’s App Store for iPhone and iPod touch has hit another landmark today with three billion applications downloaded since its launch. The announcement comes just three months after Apple posted figures of 2 billion app downloads in late September, indicating that the download rate is rapidly increasing. The holiday period, which traditionally sees huge demand for iPhone and iPod touch models, is likely a contributor to this acceleration and the launch of the iPhone in new territories such as China will have also helped.

“Three billion applications downloaded in less than 18 months—this is like nothing we’ve ever seen before,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The revolutionary App Store offers iPhone and iPod touch users an experience unlike anything else available on other mobile devices, and we see no signs of the competition catching up anytime soon.”

As yet, a credible rival to Apple’s App Store remains to be seen however Google’s Nexus One Android phone is set to be launched at CES this week (if not today) and may bring with it a boost to its Android Market app store which so far offers significantly fewer apps than Apple’s App Store. Without a decent number of apps and customers, however, it appears Steve Jobs may be correct when it comes to the “gPhone”.