@CTIA: Prices for same app vary, depending on app store

LAS VEGAS—Playing a game of Tetris downloaded from Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile application store costs $2 more than downloading the same game from the Apple App Store. With 35 applications stores globally, and many more expected to open in 2010, developers are wondering what operating platforms to write for. The founder of Ditsimo shared some data from his company during the Mobile Web and Apps World Forum Monday. The conference was one of several going on today before the CTIAWireless 2010 show is set to open tomorrow.
Remco van den Elzen is co-founder of the company, which has been tracking mobile applications in apps stories since April 2009. Apple remains king of the app store, with more than 170,000 apps available in February. Google is gaining strength, counting 27,000 apps available on its site, while Research In Motion Ltd., via its BlackBerry OS, and Nokia, via its Ovi store, count between 6,000 and 8,000 apps. Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile platform and Palm’s WebOS platform have about 2,000 apps each.
Most applications stores have about 75% of their products are paid, and about 25% are free. However, Android and Ovi shake that model up a bit, as Android counts 60% of its apps paid, and 40% free. Ovi is the opposite with 60% of its apps free and 40% paid, van den Elzen noted.
Customers are downloading different apps, and some are surprising, he said. Apple, with its sleek user interface, is all about games and entertainment. But 38% of BlackBerry downloads are for games. Nokia’s Ovi store users are all about personalization, with ringtones and wallpapers.
Developers can make money from applications, but developers shouldn’t necessarily shoot for mass-market use, van den Elzen said. Most apps from Apple, Ovi and Palm cost about $3, but BlackBerry and WinMo apps average about double the cost. And if you think paying an extra $2 for Tetris is expensive, consider IM+for Skype. On Apple, the app is $5, on Windows Mobile it is $30, van den Elzen said. The top apps in the App Store cost between $1 and $2. But the top-grossing apps cost about $10. “Don’t always try to get to the masses.”
About 1,600 developers have apps on multiple platforms today, van den Elzen said. The price differentiator will level out going forward. Business apps are the most expensive, entertainment apps are in the middle and social-networking apps are the least expensive.