iPhone App Store $2.5 Billion a Year Business?

Does the App Store represent a $2.5 billion a year economy, with 26.4 million iPhone users, 50% of whom pay for apps to the tune of $9.49 a month, or $125 million in August alone? That's the story AdMob's latest figures (via GigaOm) are telling, with 26.4 million iPod touch users, at 40% who pay, averaging $9.79 or $73 million rounding out Apple's mobile platform.

Some other interesting metrics include iPhone users downloading 10 new apps a month, 18 for iPod touch. 8 apps are freebies for the iPhone'rs, 16 for iPod touch'ies.

Any wonder everyone and their carrier is trying to get into the App Store game?

Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.