I use an Android phone. I also use apps. So I was happy to see new research stating that Android has overtaken Apple with a 44 percent worldwide share of mobile app downloads. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have anything against Apple; it is just that research like this indicates a continued emphasis from companies to produce more apps for Android, and that means more apps I can chose from.

ABI Research reported that in the second quarter of 2011, Android overtook iOS to become the market share leader in mobile application downloads. The market shares of Android and iOS were 44 percent and 31 percent, respectively, according to ABI Research’s press release. With security companies under the pressure to produce apps for multiple platforms, I find this statistic intriguing. For every company that rolled out its iPhone or iPad app first, an Android app should be soon to follow, if it hasn’t already. I wonder what press release announcing a new Android version of a security app will cross my desk next?

“Android’s open source strategy is the main factor for its success,” says Lim Shiyang, research associate. “Being a free platform has expanded the Android device install base, which in turn has driven growth in the number of third party multi-platform and mobile operator app stores. These conditions alone explain why Android is the new leader in the mobile application market.” 

ABI Research’s “Mobile Applications Market Data” tracks mobile application downloads and revenues segmented by mobile operating system platform. The database includes historical data and forecasts for application downloads for all major mobile OSs. It also provides mobile application revenue forecasts and an overview of the major mobile application storefronts. This study is a part of the firm’s Mobile Applications Research Service.