Android Market tops 500,000 apps

SMARTPHONE DEVELOPER Google has seen its Android Market surpass 500,000 apps even though 37 per cent of applications are pulled down post publication.

Google's Android Market has seen tremendous growth over the past two years and now holds 500,000 apps, however Apple's App Store still leads in total number of apps, with 600,000 available. The growths of both Apple's and Google's app stores are not unexpected. However, the facts that more than a third of apps on the Android Market are booted off and Apple's traditionally strict App Store censors approve 24 per cent of apps that later end up on the scrapheap are surprising.

Google's Android Market has fewer restrictions than Apple's App Store so it's to be expected that a higher percentage of apps there eventually get the boot compared to those at Apple. But that nearly one in four apps are thrown off the App Store after being approved makes you wonder if the fruit themed firm is loosening its iron grip.

According to findings by Research2guidance, Microsoft has finally managed to beat Apple and Google at something, with its Windows Phone Marketplace having only 13 per cent of apps booted off after approval. That said, Microsoft would happily swap this victory for increased sales of Windows Phone devices.

Both Apple and Google use the number of apps on their respective app stores as barometers of the popularity of their smartphone and tablet operating systems. The companies' respective users will be wondering how bad apps really have to be if these 'app sweeps' catch them out. µ