There are now millions of mobile applications running on the popular mobile
operating systems. Mobile applications are distributed via app stores which
provide directory and search services that assist users in identify and
acquiring the apps they most desire.
This report provides a summary of the status of app stores in the market
today. It presents a number of features common to all app stores. The major
apps stores are then described by one of three groupings: 1) consumer, 2)
enterprise and 3) independent. The business model for app stores is presented
including upfront payment, in-app purchase and on-going subscriptions. The
changing world of app revenue is summarized, indicating revenue started 'all
up front', however, it is migrating to mostly in-app to give people time to
see if the application meets their needs.
This report also evaluates the dynamics of apps on individual smartphone
devices and provides evidence that the number of mobile apps downloaded is
increasing, however, the number of active apps is leveling off at forty (40).
A major section of the report defines the implications for enterprise
mobility, and another section deals with the trend that mobile apps are free
to download but are not necessarily free to use. The report ends with a
vision for the future that indicates how app stores will proliferate for the
next few years but then will go through a 'shake out' period in which only one
or two app stores will survive for each mobile operating platform.
Target Audience:
Application developers
Mobile network operators
Mobile handset manufacturers
Network infrastructure providers
Mobile application store providers
Application and content aggregators
Report Statistics
Publication Date:October 2012
Author:J. Gerry Purdy, Ph.D.
Total Number of Pages:31
Keywords:Future of Application Stores, Future of App Stores,
Apple, Google, Droid, iOS, Amazon, Microsoft, Sony
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
App Store Features
Storefront
Download
Catalog
Categories
Search
Analytics
In-App Purchase & Subscriptions
Billings & Payments
Cloud Services
Business Models
Freemium
Upfront Purchase
In-App Purchase
Wholesale
Subscription
Mobile App Store Players
Consumer Market
Amazon App Store for Android
Apple Apps Store
AT&T Apps Store
BlackBerry App World
Google Play
Microsoft Windows Phone Store
Facebook Apps Center
Enterprise Market
Antenna
Apps Central
App47
Apperian
Sybase
Independent Market
1Mobile
Amazon Apps Store
Appitalism
Estore by Ericsson
Fiksu
Getjar
Handango
Handmark
Handseter
Mobango
Opera Mobile Store
PocketGear
SlideME
Soc.io Mall
Discovery
Value Added Services
Amazon Kindle Fire
Apple iCloud
Barnes & Noble Nook
Google Nexus
Microsoft
Sony
Apps Revenue
Apps per Device Forecast
What this Means to Enterprise IT
Mobile is Now Primary
Face the Reality: Consumer & Enterprise Support is Here to Stay
Assess the Situation
Set Policies for the Consumer Space
Set Policies for the Enterprise Space
Consider Mobile Support for Customers
Educate Your Users and Get their Support
Develop a Realistic Plan
Consider an Integrated Mobile Management (IMM) system
Review your Mobile Strategy Annually
Why "Free" is a Misnomer in Mobile Apps
The Future of Apps Stores
Figures & Tables
Figure 1. Six of the largest and most successful app stores
Figure 2. Cumulative downloads of apps from the Apple Apps Store (in
millions)
Figure 3. Sample Apple Apps Store Categories
Figure 4. Example of the Apple Apps store results for the Productivity
category (displayed in iTunes)
Figure 5. Sample page from Handmark's web site showing apps for multiple
platforms including Android & BlackBerry (but not Apple)
Figure 6. Enterprises have to consider both the Consumer Area as well as
the Enterprise Area in the deployment of their mobile applications
Figure 7. Enterprise IT now has both internal and external responsibilities
Figure 8. New Category: Integrated Mobile Management (IMM)
The Future of App Stores published by Mind Commerce Publishing LLC in October 12, 2012. This report consists of 31 Pages and the price starts from US $ 1995.
