Apple reaches milestone: 25 billion apps downloaded

By Andrea Chang

March 4, 2012 12 AM PT

Congrats to Apple, which has reached the 25-billion-apps-downloaded mark. And an even bigger congrats to the yet-to-be-named individual who won the $10,000 App Store gift card for being the one to download that coveted milestone.

The tech company made the announcement via a colorful banner on its website this weekend, telling customers: “A billion thanks. 25 times over. The App Store has reached 25 billion downloads. Thanks for getting us there.”

Apple had been holding a 25 Billion Apps Countdown Promotion since Feb. 13 and said the winner of the contest would be listed online within about 10 days following the end of the promotion period.

Customers who downloaded an app were automatically entered into the contest; people could also enter via a “non-purchase method” that involved filling out an online entry form.

The prize will be awarded for the entry -- either through an app download or through the non-purchase online form -- “sent immediately following the download of the 24,999,999,999th app,” the Cupertino, Calif., company said.

Last July, Apple’s App Store passed 15 billion downloaded apps.

In December, rival Google announced that its Android Market had passed 10 billion app downloads; Google celebrated the milestone by offering selected apps for 10 cents for a limited time.

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Apple’s App Store passes 15 billion downloads, 425,000 apps available