The year 2010 generated revenues of over 5 billion dollars for the companies that own virtual application stores, i.e. for Apple, Google, RIM, Nokia, etc. Gartner analysis and research company predict, that in 2011 these receipts will triple, reaching 15 billion dollars, and will continue to grow by tripling until 2014, when they would reach somewhere around 58 billion dollars. Those from Gartner divide these receipts into revenues generated by advertising from applications and revenues generated by in-app purchasing systems. At the moment, advertising in applications generates too much revenue for companies, but it is estimated that in the coming years, advertising in applications will generate billions of dollars for publishers.
How big is a business with mobile apps? In a new report, market research firm Gartner forecasts that global mobile app store revenues will triple from $5.2 billion last year to $15 billion in 2011, and keep growing to an astounding $58 billion by 2014. As with any forecast of a hypergrowth market, you can be sure this one will change in six months, and the further out you go the more guesswork involved.
Last year there were 8.2 billion downloads from application stores, 90% of which were generated by the AppStore, at least that's what Gartner estimates. For next year, the company estimates that 17.7 billion downloads will be recorded, 81% of which are for free applications. The year has only just begun and the analysis companies are starting to make "predictions" that in the end will turn out to be far from the truth, as has happened every time. My opinion is that the income will not triple, maybe it will double but that's about it.
