Apple’s App Store Turns 1

To say that Apple’s App Store is a success would be a gross understatement. What was surely seen as a bold experiment a year ago has succeeded to the point of it becoming the dominant mobile software distribution model and surely helped drive iPhone sales to the point of forcing competitors to change and adapt. Paired with the simplicity and ease of use of the iPhone’s hardware, the App Store stands unmatched atop the mobile world. With over 50,000 applications it is easily the largest consolidated mobile software library available and developers are still scrambling to produce more content. Despite the frustrations of a closed marketplace and small hiccups of occasionally rejecting benign products, Apple took an important step forward in the history of mobile technology. Love it or hate it, the App Store is certainly an impressive animal and one can only hope that its competitors can innovate and improve upon it.

Here is a list of important dates preceding the App Store’s birthday today:

March 6, 2008 – CEO Steve Jobs unveils the iPhone App. Store in his Software Development Kit (SDK) Keynote.

July 10, 2008 – The App. Store opens on iTunes, although apps are currently unusable. Jobs claims the Store has 500 third-party apps.

July 11, 2008 – iPhone OS 2.0 software becomes available, enabling the use of the App. Store.

July 14, 2008 – App Store downloads top 10 million in the first weekend.

August 6, 2008 – $999.99 application “I Am Rich” is removed after 6 people allegedly buy it.

August 11, 2008 – Steve Jobs claims Apple sells an average of $1 million per day in paid applications.

December 13, 2008 – Rival Microsoft launches the Seadragon Mobile application onto the platform.

February, 2009 – Popular, “There’s an App for That” television commercials debut.

March 17, 2009 – Apple announces the iPhone will allow blocking of objectionable apps in the iPhone's Settings.

April 23, 2009 – Connor Mulcahey downloads the 1 billionth app and wins an assortment of Apple products and gift cards.

July, 2009 – Over 50,000 apps reside on the App. Store.

sources: wikipedia and cnet