Revenue for mobile app stores to soar this year

The four major mobile app stores (Apple, Google, Nokia and RIM) will see revenues jump 77.7% in 2011 to $3.8 billion, according to IHS Screen Digest.

Apple’s App Store is expected to claim three-quarters of total market share this year – with revenues of $2.91 billion, up 63.4% on 2010. The App Store is likely to retain a 60% market share by 2014.

However, Google’s Android is set to see the fastest growth in 2011. Android market revenues will soar 295.4% this year to $425.36 million, on its way to becoming the second-largest application store.

Combined revenues for the four app stores in 2011 will rise from $2.1 billion in 2010 and from $830.6 million in 2009.

“With consumers continuing to show robust, unflagging interest in downloading games and other applications to devices like smart phones and tablets, collective revenues from the four stores will climb sharply this year,” said Jack Kent, analyst, mobile media, for IHS.

Total download revenue from games and other applications is also expected to rise in the next few years – up to $5.6 billion in 2012, $6.9 billion in 2013 and $8.3 billion in 2014.