The number of apps available for the iPad 48 hours after it became available to consumers eclipsed what BlackBerry and other platforms provided more than a year after their stores opened. No wonder consumers have already downloaded more than one millions apps to their iPads.
Thousands of iPad apps already approved by Apple
Over the the weekend, the number of iPad apps available to consumers already eclipsed 3,000. This is of course in addition to the nearly 200,000 iPhone that that can be configured – albeit in a diminished capacity – to the iPad.
Early data also shows that the vast majority if iPad apps – upwards of 80 percent – have a download cost. This is in addition to the “in-app” commerce opportunities provided by “freemium” games and offerings from traditional media publishers like The Wall Street Journal.
Nearly a third of all iPad apps available right not are games, with books the second largest category with more than 150 of them in the store. The average price for a paid application is $4.99.
iPad app downloads are on fire
While most of the attention is on Apple selling more than 300,000 iPads on day one of availability, more significant is the volume of apps being downloaded – which is huge. More than one million apps were downloaded on Saturday alone. On top of that, more than 250,000 e-Books were ordered on day one. This is in addition to three copy of Winnie the Pooh that was sent to new iPad owners shortly after turning on the device.
There is still something called an iPhone
Not to get lost in all the iPad frenzy is that other pocket computer that Apple has on the market – which can also connect to a 3G signal. On Thursday, Apple will unveil iPhone OS 4.0 during an Apple Town Hall event. Stay tuned to more coverage that day for how the new operating system will impact the app ecosystem.
