More Android apps were downloaded than iOS apps in the second quarter of 2011, according to the technology research firm ABI Research. The marketshare of Android apps downloaded was 44%, whereas the marketshare of iOS apps downloaded was 31%.

The shipment growth of mobiles running Google’s Android operating system helped to explain the increased amount of Android apps being downloaded. Apple had 15% marketshare of apps being downloaded in the first quarter of 2011, however this dropped to 9% in the second quarter of 2011, due to Android shipments increasing 10% in the second quarter. The install base for Android, when compared to iOS, was 2.4 to 1 worldwide, and is expected to increase to a radio of 3 to 1 by 2016.

Although more Android apps are being downloaded than iOS apps, Apple still holds the lead when it comes to the amount of apps downloaded per user, by a radio of 2 to 1. The amount of global app downloads for 2011 is expected to be 29 billion, compared to 9 billion in 2010. The total smartphone install base is expected to grow 46% in 2011, according to the technology research firm ABI Research.

Source: iTWire