510b48fa 291d 4385 ae87 715aaa9e3c67
Apple has frequently promoted how much money has been paid out to developers selling apps via the App Store. The latest pronouncement was during the iPhone 4S introduction when Scott Forstall announced that Apple had paid out three billion dollars for app sales. The point Fostall is making when sharing these totals is that developing for iOS is more profitable for developers than other platforms, most notably Android.

According to analyst Gene Munster at Piper Jaffray, Apple commands 85 to 90 percent of mobile app dollars, with Google's Android Market Place generating just 7 percent of the gross revenue of the App Store. Munster anticipates Apple will continue to hold more than 70 percent of mobile app dollars going forward.

androidvsappstore
Munster says Apple developers have made more than $3.4 billion since the App Store opened, compared to just $240 million for Google developers. As with all analyst estimates, these numbers should be taken with a little skepticism, but by all accounts the App Store is a tremendous success.

Image courtesy The Verge

Top Rated Comments

Kaibelf Avatar
176 months ago
Really? So you'd rather have the developer make less money than they deserve? What does apple do to deserve their huge chunk of the pie?

Do you seriously think that retailers pass 100% of a sales price on to anyone who creates the product on their shelves? What does apple do? They provide the entire storefront, handle transactions, push updates, and provide customer care. What DON'T they do? Make you go to a store or find an obscure website for the exact same product.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shrink Avatar
176 months ago
I've been a mac user for over 10 years. I've never bought anything from the iTunes or App store and don't intend to.

And you're proud as punch about it, too.

Don't compromise your principles!

Stand firm against the tide!

People who buy from the App Store or iTunes are lemmings!

March to your own drummer!

:rolleyes::D

BTW - why don't you buy anything from the App Store or iTunes??:confused:
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kid A Avatar
176 months ago
I've been a mac user for over 10 years. I've never bought anything from the iTunes or App store and don't intend to.

I think you forgot to add a "Neener-neener! :p :cool:" to your post.

Seriously, though, your post puts an entirely new spin on the above story. Turns out, Apple oughta be shaking in their boots if they're banking on a successful iTMS or App Store! I mean, with you in the mix... :rolleyes:
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CylonGlitch Avatar
176 months ago
This is huge. From a developer stand point, you want to develop for a system that will give your software the best chance of becoming successful. If you can only write for one system, iOS is the way to go. This is just the opposite of what happened with Apple and Microsoft. With Windows being the dominate platform for desktops, developers flocked to it because that is where their customers were; Apple tried but never got nearly as many 3rd party developers. This time around, the shoe is on the other foot. We'll see what Apple does with this success.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bigcat318 Avatar
176 months ago
The developer agreed to the terms, did they not? They are making profit on software made for hardware Apple developed, are they not? Apple not only provides the medium for the software but also the distribution. Or do you think 500,000sqft data center facilities are free?

You can boycott it all you want. You just have no logical reason for doing so.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nagromme Avatar
176 months ago


Pretty interesting how Android dominates hardware market share, but Apple clearly dominates the the software front. Shouldn't the software business be driving the hardware business? This is at least true in the portable handheld gaming market.
Actually, doesn't iOS dominate in hardware user base/unit sales too, last we know?

The iOS app market reaches more than just all of Apple's phones: it’s iPods and iPads too.

Whereas the Android app market reaches LESS than all Android phones: Android tablets have not taken off, and many "Android” phones are Android-based in technicality only, and may count towards Google’s market stats but can’t run Android apps. (For example: Asian OS variations, limited “feature phones” based on Android, and the Fire tablet: if Amazon sees success with that, it will boost book sales, but not Android app sales!)


Asp = ?
Average selling price.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
vision pro video recording

WSJ: Some Apple Vision Pro Buyers 'Feel Total Regret'

Friday May 16, 2025 7:43 am PDT by
Apple's Vision Pro headset has left many early adopters expressing dissatisfaction over its weight, limited use cases, and sparse software ecosystem, according to a new article from The Wall Street Journal. In the year following the device's launch, user feedback suggests that it has failed to meet expectations for comfort, software support, and social acceptance. In interviews conducted by T...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Battery Capacity and Weight Allegedly Revealed

Monday May 19, 2025 2:22 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air later this year, and while there have been plenty of rumors about the camera's overall design and thinness, we haven't heard any details about the device's weight and battery capacity until now. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air has a weight ...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Could Debut Advanced Silicon Battery Tech

Friday May 16, 2025 8:00 am PDT by
The upcoming all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air could become the first Apple smartphone to adopt advanced battery technology, with Japanese supplier TDK preparing to ship its new generation of silicon-anode batteries by the end of June. According to DigiTimes, TDK CEO Noboru Saito revealed in a recent interview that the Apple supplier has accelerated its production timeline, moving shipments...