On Thursday the one-billionth download from Apple’s App Store occurred, marking an impressive milestone for the store.
Only in existence for 10 months, the App Store already boasts more than 30,000 applications with new content pouring in every day.
With consumer’s voracious appetite for mobile apps growing by the day, developers are racing to come up with the next big App Store hit. A seemingly already overcrowded marketplace, however, has made many developers wonder if it is too late to cash in on the boom.
Mobile analytics firm Flurry thinks the answer is “no.”
According to Flurry, “… there still remains a significant opportunity to make solid money with iPhone applications, especially for games. However, like traditional video game, movie and music industries, the iPhone App market is a “hit-driven industry” meaning that total market revenue is concentrated among a few big winners. That said, there appears to be more of a middle class in the App Store; that is, more companies bringing in respectable revenues.”
Flurry’s research suggests that offering a free version of one’s app is the key component in achieving APP Store success, “Among your strongest marketing plays in the App Store is to offer a free trial of your game or application. Not only is the App Store designed for this, but also it’s the best way to reduce consumer risk in trying your application, with the goal of eventually getting that user to purchase the full version …. Simply put, free trial has leveled the playing field for independent developers who previously struggled to get consumers to even give them a try. Additionally, it rewards more established companies who innovate and leverage capabilities of the iPhone hardware to wow consumers…”
With the one-billionth download Apple announced the App Store’s top 20 all-time paid apps.
In a humorous, but somewhat sad commentary on our society, the top 20 includes:
15 games
2 music-related apps
1 app that turns your screen into a virtual koi pond
1 app that turns your screen into a virtual foaming glass of beer
and last but certainly not least…
1 digital fart machine
