Apple Pass Two Billion App Store Downloads

Apple have just announced that there have been an impressive two billion downloads from the App Store for iPhone and iPod touch.  The breakthrough comes roughly two and a half months after Apple notched up the 1.5bn mark back in July, a year after the App Store opened its virtual doors for the first time.  There are currently in excess of 85,000 applications on offer, with Apple boasting 125,000 developers in their iPhone Developer Program.

That puts Apple's store at the top of the pile when it comes to mobile download stores, though with Android, Palm and Microsoft all either having or preparing to push out their own the race is on to catch up.  We're wondering just how many of the Apple apps get downloaded, tried with briefly and then deleted; unfortunately Apple don't release statistics like that.

Press Release:

Apple's App Store Downloads Top Two Billion

More Than 85,000 Apps Now Available for iPhone & iPod touch

CUPERTINO, Calif., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today announced that more than two billion apps have been downloaded from its revolutionary App Store, the largest applications store in the world. There are now more than 85,000 apps available to the more than 50 million iPhone(TM) and iPod touch® customers worldwide and over 125,000 developers in Apple's iPhone Developer Program.

"The rate of App Store downloads continues to accelerate with users downloading a staggering two billion apps in just over a year, including more than half a billion apps this quarter alone," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The App Store has reinvented what you can do with a mobile handheld device, and our users are clearly loving it."

Today, iPhone and iPod touch customers in 77 countries worldwide can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. With the recently introduced iTunes® 9, it's now easier than ever to organize and sync your apps right in iTunes and they will automatically appear on your iPhone or iPod touch with the same layout.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.