Mobile App Wealth To Jump In 3 Years

According to a report from commissioned by GetJar, a bit self-serving since it's an app store but doesn't make it untrue, app business could explode by 2012 to the tune of $17.5 billion. Here are quick facts from the report:

• 92% Growth year over year from 7 billion downloads in 2009 to 50 billion by 2012.
• $17.5 Billion by 2012 - a market value greater than the CD market of nearly $14 billion.
• Asian app downloads will exceed Western regions but will require a different monetary models.
• Europe will hit $8.5 billion by 2012.  North America will hit $6.7 billion in the same time frame.
• Advertising-based apps will account for 28% of app revenue in 2012 - up from 12% in 2009.
• Average selling app price in 2009 is $1.90 but will decrease by 29% by 2012.

One of the highlighted fact in the report is who will come out ahead at the end of the day.  It is unclear how many app stores will spring up and who will be left standing.  The report believes a mere few will be left by 2012 to share the app revenue of $17.5 billion.

Even now, Google, Apple, and others are attempting to create an device-app-content ecosystem to cultivate as much as the demands of mobile users as possible.  I'm sure Android Marketplace, Apple's App Store, and a couple others will be around.  It'll be interesting to see if any of the more independent variety will be around and what kind of impact they may have.

So, anyone still looking to get into the app business, now's the time.

More at Business Wire, CNet News.