Revenue generated from app downloads in the first quarter of 2013 increased 11 per cent compared to the last quarter of 2012.
According to figures published by Canalys, the 13.4 billion app downloads from Apple’s App Store, Google Play, the Windows Phone Store and BlackBerry World raised US$2.2 billion.
Furthermore, a 9 per cent increase was recorded in direct revenue from paid-for apps, in-app purchases and subscriptions.
Adam Daum, Canalys chief analytics analyst, said the results suggest apps are gradually having more impacts on users of mobile devices.
He said: “Apps have had a huge impact on the way consumers use mobile devices, what they value, and what they expect from smartphones and tablets. They are now central to how consumers engage with content and connected services, and how they personalise their devices around the app-enabled features that are important to them.
“This is a multi-billion-dollar growth market, with more and more consumers around the world now comfortable and confident in finding apps, downloading them and making in-app purchases, on a growing addressable base of smart phones and tablets.”
He noted emerging markets such as South Africa, Brazil and Indonesia showed strongest growth, aided by the increasing number of smartphones users.
Globally, Apple’s App Store is the largest indexed proportion of revenue, accounting for about 74 per cent.
Google Play store however recorded the greatest number of downloads (about 51 per cent of the store)
Tim Shepherd, Canalys senior analyst, said: “Apple’s App Store and Google Play remain the heavyweights in the app store world. In comparison, BlackBerry World and the Windows Phone Store remain distant challengers today, though they still should not be ignored.
“Each of these four stores represents a different market proposition for developers, and remains the primary outlet to reach users on the platforms they serve.
“The strength of app ecosystems will increasingly help to determine winners and losers in the smart device industry.”
