Apple App Store crosses 50 billion downloads

Reiterating its position as the world's largest online shop for mobile applications, Apple has announced its App Store crossed the 50 billion downloads-mark when Brandon Ashmore from Ohio purchased the new game 'Say the Same Thing' by Space Inch.

Apple claims customers are now downloading more than 800 apps per second - that is about two billion apps per month.

"Apple would like to thank our incredible customers and developers for topping 50 billion apps downloaded," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services in a realse. "The App Store completely transformed how people use their mobile devices and created a thriving app ecosystem that has paid out over nine billion dollars to developers. We're absolutely floored to cross this milestone in less than five years."

The App Store opened in July 2008 with 500 apps and now has more than 850,000 apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users in 155 countries. The App Store had crossed the 25 billion downloads mark in March 2012. At this rate, 100 billion downloads should take under a year.

For the record, Ashmore received a $10,000 App Store Gift Card.