According to a new study from ABI Research, the worldwide app industry will achieve 44 billion cumulative downloads by 2016. Although iOS-based devices are leading the way, Android and Windows Phone 7 are steadily catching.
Moreover, with the increasing pool of smartphone and tablet users, the research company forecasts the evolution of the app store model. “Given the vast number of choices available, app developers and app stores need to innovate continually in order to maintain consumers’ interest,” comments ABI research analyst Fei Feng Seet.
Apple on its end is rumored to have made modifications to its AppStore ranking algorithm, taking into account qualitative information such as reviews, on top of download statistics. Moreover, the Cupertino folks don’t seem to dig incentivized downloads when they cut into revenues from in-app sales.
To that end, ABI’s practice director Neil Strother commented that the time is right for Apple to react in an environment where “competition and consumers’ heightened expectations are increasing the pressure”…
As usual ABI Research’s website has more information on the subject.