Apple AppStore Nearing 1 Billion iPhone Apps Served

Apple Friday launched a Web site counting down—or, really, counting up—to the billionth app download. The Web site counter ticks at about a rate of 100 applications per second as the AppStore, launched last July around the release of the Apple iPhone 3G, nears the big milestone. At 10:53 a.m., the count had reached 928,111,634 and continued to climb.

Apple has been offering applications at a pace to rival McDonald's hamburgers, serving piping-hot mobile applications to the iPhone and iPod touch via iTunes at a rapid clip.

The 1 billion mark is significant, as it solidifies the fact that free and paid mobile applications have captured the hearts of consumers.

To celebrate the milestone, Apple is offering users a host of prizes if they download applications between now and the time that it hits the big billion. Users who download an app now will be automatically entered to win a $10,000 iTunes gift card, an iPod Touch, a Time Capsule and a MacBook Pro. Users can enter up to 25 times each day, the contest rules indicate. The contest can also be entered without a download, Apple said.

Apple has also launched a page in iTunes highlighting the top paid and free applications of all time. Topping the list of paid applications is Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D, a $5.99 game. Taking the top spot among free apps is Facebook.

Apple's AppStore success has prompted its chief smartphone rivals to launch similar application stores. Last month, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion unveiled BlackBerry App World, while others such as Palm, Nokia and Google Android have launched mobile application marketplaces of their own.

By some accounts, Apple's AppStore is miles ahead of the competition. It is also estimated that the AppStore could become a $1 billion business by the end of 2009. As of last month, the AppStore featured more than 25,000 different applications for download.