Apple has just announced the App Store has surpassed 50 billion app downloads as the countdown timer has reached its goal:
— App Store (@AppStore) May 15, 2013
Apple’s 50 billion app countdown page now reads:
50 billion app downloads. One really big thank you.
The company notes a winner will be announced shortly. Last year’s winner was announced two days later, which turned out to be Chunli Fu from China after she downloaded Where’s My Water? Free.
The company recently launched a contest to provide the 50 billionth app downloader with a $10,000 iTunes Card and also 50 extra $500 cards to the next additional downloaders. Last year, Apple held a similar contest to celebrate its 25 billionth app download.
What a coincidence for Apple to announce 50 billion app downloads right smack in the middle of the 2013 Google I/O developers conference. Earlier today, Google announced its Google Play store had surpassed 48 billion app downloads, plus the company also released a new dedicated Google Hangout iOS app and said a new version of Google Maps for iPhone and iPad are coming soon.
…more to follow