Apple's App Store has topped the 15 billion download mark, thanks to the more than 200 million iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users, the company announced Thursday.
At this point, there are 425,000 apps in the App Store, and 100,000 native iPad apps, available in 90 countries, Apple confirmed.
"In just three years, the revolutionary App Store has grown to become the most exciting and successful software marketplace the world has ever seen," Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said in a statement. "Thank you to all of our amazing developers who have filled it with over 425,000 of the coolest apps and to our over 200 million iOS users for surpassing 15 billion downloads."
To date, iOS developers have earned $2.5 billion for their creations. Apple highlighted some of those developers in its release, including Epic Games and Callaway Digital Arts.
The news comes about six months after the App Store hit 10 billion downloads, at which point Apple awarded its 10 billionth customer with a $10,000 iTunes gift card. UK resident Gail Davis of Orpington, Kent was the lucky recipient.
The next-generation of apps will be accessed via iOS 5, which will ship to customers this fall. Whether or not that will be in conjunction with a new iPhone, however, is anyone's guess. There are, of course, no shortage of rumors about the fabled device.
The 15 billion download announcement, meanwhile, comes as Apple is battling Microsoft and Amazon over their use of the term "app store." Apple was dealt a blow in its bid for exclusive rights to the phrase this week when a California district judge denied Cupertino's request for an injunction against Amazon's AppStore.