Android’s market share of free applications stands out against the competitors’ one: about 57% of applications at the Android Market can be obtained for free. At the App Store the number of such applications is 28%, at the BlackBerry Apps World – 26%. But the users of Windows Mobile devices have to pay more often than others – only 22% of available applications at the Windows Marketplace are free.
According to the research done by Distimo, more than 50% of applications in any existing store cost no more than $2. Besides, the biggest part of applications at the App Store is less than $1. It may be one of the reasons for such stunning sales, according to Apple; so far applications have been downloaded more than 5 bln times.
The big part of free soft at the Android Market is a positive moment for the users of smartphones based on the open platform. However, from the point of view of monetization, placing applications at the App Store is more profitable for mobile apps developers. The additional benefit is the Apple iAd platform which allows Apple apps developers to place advertising modules into their products and earn additionally at demonstration.