Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s Countdown To 50 Billion App Downloads

Updated on

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has launched a countdown at the App Store as the company approaches the 50 billion download mark. As I started this piece, that number was at 49 billion, 239 million and moving quickly. I’m thinking by the time I finish here it will reach have reached 49,240,xxx,xxx.

Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s Countdown To 50 Billion App Downloads

The Ohio girl who was born at 12:12 on 12/12/12 earned the name “Forever” as part of her legacy. As Seth Myers jokingly put it, “also exactly how long she would be a stripper.” But what does the person who downloads the 50 billionth app receive? A $10,000 App Store Gift Card from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). When the Powerball jackpot reaches into the hundreds of millions it’s fun to play the “what would you do with all that money” game. A game that is not nearly as much fun is certainly, “What would you do with $10,000 at the App Store?” And I mean it, literally, what the hell would you do with $10,000 at the App Store? The next 50 people following that epic number will receive a $500 App Store Gift Card from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), it could be argued that this is a much better prize.

I mean the iTunes Store maybe but the App Store? Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), you’re cheap. With a war chest of $150+ billion dollars, that’s the best you can do?

Fifty billion is a staggering number. While Android may be the future, this is quite the past from Apple. The App Store opened in 2008 and saw a similar countdown to 1 billion downloaded apps in April 2009. Exponential growth led to a 10 billion app countdown in less than two years time. Now, in just over two years Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has seen nearly 50 billion apps downloaded.

The countdown page also gives a nod to the all-time most downloaded paid and free apps. That distinction goes to Angry Birds and Facebook respectively. The rest of that list looks like the home screen on tens of thousands of people’s iPhones I imagine. It did mine before I had so filled my phone with apps that I was forced to put them in folders.

No purchase is necessary to enter the contest and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has setup an alternate entry page for those who wish to be as cheap as Apple.

Leave a Comment