Customers spent nearly half a billion dollars on apps and in-app purchases in the first week of January 2015

Jan 9, 2015 08:11 GMT  ·  By

Apple has released the latest App Store numbers offering a clearer picture of the iOS ecosystem today, both for customers and for developers.

In a 900-word press release, the company brags about the cash flowing in and out of the digital distribution venue, the amount of apps available to iPhone and iPad customers today, the best titles available for download, and more.

Customer spending, developer earnings

One of the first things Apple mentions is that its customers are not shy of spending. Roughly half a billion dollars (or €423 million) were spent in the first week of 2015. New Year’s Day was reportedly the most profitable day in the App Store’s history.

In 2014, apps generated over $10 billion (€8.47 billion) in revenue for developers while billings rose 50%. Since the App Store’s inception, Apple has paid developers a total of $25 billion (€21.17 billion).

“This year is off to a tremendous start after a record-breaking year for the App Store and our developer community,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We're so proud of the creativity and innovation developers bring to the apps they create for iOS users and that the developer community has now earned over $25 billion.”

iOS 8 was a catalyst

Calling it the most significant iOS update ever, Apple says iOS 8 enables new types of apps and packs features that have made the entire ecosystem more usable, and therefore more popular.

Apple mentions major app successes, such as Monument Valley, Crossy Road, and Threes, and even quotes one of the developers, Hipster Whale (author of Crossy Road). App previews and app bundles are also popular with users, Apple says.

There are currently 1.4 million apps available for iDevice owners. Half of those are suitable for iPads, according to the Cupertino company.

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