10 years ago, Apple's App Store arrived in time for the release of the iPhone 3GS, and it drastically changed the way apps and games were sold on mobile devices.
In fact, we'd argue that the App Store is the key element that really paved the way for the success of the iPhone and thus shepherded in the age of smartphones we currently enjoy.Before the App Store, purchasing software online was a bit of a Wild West environment and, in particular, discovering new applications and games for mobile devices like PDAs or proto-smartphones was a tedious and time-consuming exercise.And when you did find something you were interested in, youd have to hope the app maker had a secure storefront and then jump through even more hoops to get it installed on your device.The App Store was revolutionary because it streamlined the whole process, from app discovery to purchase and installation, with Apple's iTunes Store providing a ready-made template for digital purchases that the Cupertino company smartly leveraged.10 years later, it's hard to imagine a world before the App Store.
Aside from making daily tasks easier and providing iPhone and iPad owners with endless games and other forms of entertainment, its also allowed new business models to be created without apps, thered be no Uber, and media streaming services like Netflix have used apps to fuel their rapid growth and expasion into new markets.To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Apple's App Store, then, we've put together a quick list of what we think are the platform's five of the most significant milestones.1.
The App Store is openJuly 10, 2008 In anticipation of the iPhone 3Gs launch the following day, Apple officially opens the iOS App Store, which features 500 apps available for download.
Just three days later, the number of apps on offer has climbed to 800, and the total number of downloaded apps has already reached 10 million.2.
In-app purchases are bornJune 17, 2009 Apple rolls out iPhone OS 3.0 and with it, the App Store gets a new feature: in-app purchases (IAPs), giving app makers a new way to monetize their creations.
Initially however, Apples policy limited in-app purchases to paid apps and games only the late Steve Jobs apparently felt that customers shouldnt be tricked into downloading something that seems free, but then actually requires payment.
Four months later though, Apple changed its policy to allow IAPs in free apps and games, which helped kick off whole the freemium revolution.3.
The age of the tablet has arrivedApril 3, 2010 The iPad arrives, and with it, Apple expands the App Stores repertoire to include tablet-specific apps alongside what it calls Universal apps, which are designed to work on both iPhone and iPad.
Owners of the new tablet can initially choose from a range of 3,000 apps that are optimised for the bigger 9.7-inch device.
The number of available iPad apps triples in the space of three months.4.
App Store arrives on watches and TVsOctober, 2015 Having successfully nurtured its app storefront on smartphones, tablets and Mac computers, the 2015 launches of Apple's highly-anticipated Apple Watch and revised Apple TV brings the App Store to wrists and living rooms around the world.5.
A decade laterJuly 10, 2018 On the App Stores 10th birthday, the number of apps on offer has climbed to reach over 2.2 million, which between them have been downloaded over 130 billion times.
For their coding efforts, iOS app developers have made more than $100 billion in revenue selling their wares on the App Store platform.