Also gets a redesigned logo

Jul 15, 2009 15:25 GMT  ·  By

GetJar, a mobile app store from before the term was even invented, is announcing more than half a billion downloads since it launched in 2004. That would be impressive in itself, if it wasn't for Apple's App Store already boasting 1.5 billion downloads two years after it launched. Still it's a nice number for arguably the largest independent app store, but, to help it get even better traction, the site is launching a resigned logo.

“GetJar’s success to date is the product of the innovation, hard work, and loyalty of our developer community – from small, two man teams in India to large-scale developers in the US or Europe. Making sure these developers have an open, free and quick way to get their content distributed globally is essential to provide the widest offering of quality apps to consumers,” Ilja Laurs, GetJar’s CEO and founder, commented.

The store boasts 50,000 applications for a variety of phones and platforms like Java, Symbian, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Palm and Flash Lite. Available in over 200 countries, it is also one of the most widespread app stores. But, in the multitude of apps available from tens of thousands of developers, a few have stood out as the most popular, and the site has compiled a list of the most downloaded applications.

Right on top is Opera Mini with 17 million downloads, no surprise, as the browser is very popular with mobile users. Instant messaging apps eBuddy and Nimbuzz follow with 16 and 14 million downloads, respectively. Mobile community app mig33 got ten million downloads, while Google Maps for mobile took the fifth place with five million.

The store also got a new logo with Patrick Mork, vice president of marketing at GetJar, saying that the new design better represented the store's new audience and focus. “We changed our logo to acknowledge that apps aren't simply for technology enthusiasts or Smartphone owners. With over 50% of our consumers downloading content at least once a week, our research clearly shows that apps are for consumers of all ages, regardless of where they live, the handset they use or the platform their handset runs on. The new logo embodies this fact through a look that's irreverent, edgy, open and screams APPS!”