Free Android Apps Soar Past Free iPhone, iPad App Totals
More free Android apps now exist than free iPhone apps, according to mobile analytics firm Distimo, which says that Google’s operating system now boasts 134,342 compared to iOS’ 121,845. Add in free iPad-exclusive apps, though, and Apple’s tally climbs to 132,239, bringing each mobile OS side’s respective totals closer, and pleasing penny-pinchers that much more.
Sales of Android smartphones continue to boom in popularity, and developers enjoy a much easier approval process when adding software to these devices, helping explain why it presently enjoys an edge on its rival. Apple’s more rigorous policy of policing app store submissions for possible copyright infringement, illegality or objectionable content inevitably slows down growth of its catalog.
With Android mobile devices on the rise commercially, iOS devices commanding smaller market share and Android’s less strict app guidelines, you’d expect apps to be blossoming for Google’s platform. Still, iOS enjoys the clear lead in overall software available with 333,124 programs to 206,143. But Distimo predicts that, given booming sales of Android cell phones and tablets, the operating system may get revenge shortly by overtaking Apple’s lead (including combined iPhone and iPad apps) within the next five months.