Report Shows App Store for iPhone & iPad Each Outgross Android

Apple’s App Store for iPhone and iPad has been the largest software download service for mobile devices since its release, but a new report from research firm Distimo shows that even when broken down by device, Apple’s App Store(s) handily trounce Google’s Android Market. Looking at the top 200 grossing apps, Distimo reported that Apple’s iPhone app sales bring in more than four times what Android Market generates.

Distimo Chart

Source: Distimo
(Click the image to see a larger version)

The information is part of Distimo’s Full Year 2011 report on all the major mobile app stores. According to that report, “nearly all of the app stores” more than doubled the total number of available apps over the course of 2011, and Windows Phone 7 Marketplace increased its apps by more than 400 percent.

Stunningly, if you combine the seven major app stores (Amazon, Apple iPad, Apple iPhone, Appworld Android Market, Nokia’s Ovi, and Windows Phone 7 Marketplace), there are more than one million total apps available. Most of those are on Apple’s App Store and Android Market, but the total number is still quite remarkable.

We should also emphasize that while Apple considers iPhone and iPad apps to be part of the one App Store, Distimo is breaking them out separately.

The chart below tracks the total number of apps available in each of the app stores over the course of 2011 (December is obviously excluded, despite the “Full Year” name of the report). It shows that Google’s Android Market has narrowed the gap with Apple, though that requires separating iPhone and iPad apps.

It also shows that even when you do separate iPhone and iPad apps, Apple has the #1 and #3 app stores in terms of available apps (though it’s also true for total downloads and revenue generated). The rests of the pack lags far behind for battling out who is tops in the also-rans, and the number of total non-iPad tablet apps wouldn’t even show as a blip on the chart.

Distimo Chart

Source: Distimo
(Click the image to see a larger version)

Another interesting piece of data from the report is the fact that Apple’s App Store downloads in China have been increasing “dramatically.” The firm said that when looking at the top 300 paid and free apps, China downloads now represent 30 percent of iPhone app downloads, and a remarkable 44 percent of iPad downloads.

Considering that Apple has only recently gained a foothold for its products in China, this data suggests a major upside for the company in the Chinese market.

Distimo Chart

Source: Distimo
(Click the image to see a larger version)

Distimo also looked at games, and noted that Windows Phone 7 has grown to be the fourth largest app store when looking at the total number of games available. Games are seen as an important driver for app use on mobile devices. Amazon’s Appstore for Android is the fifth largest app store for games.

Lastly, Distimo notes a specific dip in app downloads on Apple’s App Store just before the company rolls out new iPhone and iPad models. The firm saw a dip in downloads during February for iPad apps, while September showed a dip in iPhone downloads. Apple released the iPad 2 at the end of February, while the iPhone 4S was released in early October.