After iOS, Android hits 50 billion app downloads

Google CEO Larry Page has revealed that users have downloaded over 50 billion apps from the Android Play Store. This is an incredible feat as unlike iOS, Android had a relatively slow start with its apps ecosystem. Page also said that Google had already paid more money to developers so far this year than they had paid in the entire 2012.

“We’ve now activated more than 900 million Android devices worldwide and we’re lighting up over 1.5 million devices every day.  That’s pretty amazing given the first Android phone launched less than five years ago,” Page said during the earnings call.

Apple’s App Store too hit the 50 billion app download mark in May this year but Google’s announcement indicates that Android’s daily app download numbers have overtaken iOS. That isn’t quite surprising as Android now powers almost two-thirds of all smartphones sold globally and its adoption continues to grow especially in the entry-level smartphone space with affordable smartphones from white box device manufacturers becoming popular in key markets. If I were to bet, I’d reckon that Android would hit the 100 billion app download mark before iOS.

During the call, Page also announced that Chrome web browser now had over 750 million users.