Apple’s App Store downloads top 25 billion

NEW DELHI: Apple on Monday announced that more than 25 billion apps have been downloaded from its App Store. The 25 billionth app was downloaded by Chunli Fu of Qingdao, China. As winner of the 'app store countdown to 25 billion apps', Chunli will receive an iTunes gift card worth $10,000.

Apple said Chunli had downloaded Where Is My Water, a free puzzle game developed by Disney Interactive Studios.

Two years ago Apple had rewarded Connor Mulcahey, aged 13 at that time, for downloading the one billionth app. However, it seems that Mulcahey was luckier than the current winner. He not only got a $10000 worth iTunes gift card but also an iPod Touch, a Time Capsule and a MacBook Pro.

"We'd like to thank our customers and developers for helping us achieve this historic milestone of 25 billion apps downloaded," Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of internet software and services, said in a press note.

"When we launched the app store less than four years ago, we never imagined that mobile apps would become the phenomenon they have, or that developers would create such an incredible selection of apps for iOS users," added Cue.

Apple said its iOS App Store is used on more than 315 million iPhone, iPads and iPods. The store offers more than 550,000 apps in 123 countries, with more than 170,000 native iPad apps available. According to the Apple, it has paid out more than $4billion to developers.