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The worldwide smartphone applications market grew more than $2.2 billion dollars within the first six months of 2010, according to research2guidance. Mobile application download numbers reached a total of 3.8 billion in only 6 months, compared to 3.1 billion in 2009 according to the latest report by research2guidance.

“The market is gaining momentum as more and more smartphone users have direct and easy access to app stores,” explains Ralf-Gordon Jahns, Research Director at research2guidance. “In addition, the app stores which were founded in 2009 have finally managed to increase application numbers and are growing their app business.”

    Key market data      2009 (full year)    1st half year 2010
    App market revenue   $1.7 bn US          $2.2 bn US
    App download number  3.1 bn              3.9 bn

“Apple’s competitors like Nokia and BlackBerry started to leverage their global reach and increased the traffic on their app stores” says Egle Mikalajunaite Research Analyst at research2guidance. “We see this trend continuing in the next several months and years. The next wave of new app stores will be niche stores specializing on e.g. business or mobile health apps”.

Average application prices steeped to $3.60 US per paid application in the first half of 2010.

“Although there are still significant differences with regard to prices between stores, the overall decline of app prices has reclined”, according to Ralf-Gordon Jahns. “App publishers should be aware of the price differences between stores and mobile platforms. These price differences are a sign of a lack of market transparency. They represent a good business opportunity, but not for too long”.

Additional information is available on the current research2guidance report, “Global Smartphone Application Report 2010.” More information is also available on the research2guidance website at http://www.research2guidance.com/shop/.