Jan 14, 2011 15:50 GMT  ·  By

Apple has announced that the App Store is close to hitting the 10 billion downloads mark. In anticipation of the 10 billionth download, the company has kicked off a contest which nabs the winner a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card.

“As of today, nearly 10 billion apps have been downloaded from the App Store worldwide. Which is almost as amazing as the apps themselves,” Apple states on its website.

“So we want to say thanks. Download the 10 billionth app, and you could win a US $10,000 iTunes Gift Card. Just visit the App Store, and download what could be your best app yet,” Apple explains. There are two ways to enter the promotion.

The easiest way - download an app from the App Store and you are automatically entered into the Promotion.

The non-purchase method - Apple fans must visit http://www.apple.com/itunes/10-billion-app-countdown/entry-form/, and complete an online entry with their name, complete mailing address, phone number, and birth date.

Once the online entry is complete, users must hit the “Submit” button which translates into one (1) entry into the Promotion.

25 are allowed, and the same goes with actual application downloads - only twenty-five (25) entries per person and/or iTunes account and/or email address, per day will be granted.

As far as eligibility is concerned, the 10 Billion Apps Countdown Promotion is open only to entrants who are 13 years of age or older at time of entry, or to legal residents of a participating App Store country.

To see whether the promotion applies in your territory, Apple says to see App Store front page in your country.

Also noteworthy, entries are limited to individual consumers only. In other words, commercial enterprises and business entities are not eligible, while Apple staffers, contractors, or those enrolled with its subsidiaries are also not eligible.

The promotion ends with the downloading of the 10 billionth app.

The downloading of the 10 billionth app is considered to be either the actual act of downloading the app, or the receipt of the non-purchase entry after the download of the 9,999,999,999th app, whichever comes first.