Android App Downloads To Outpace Apple App Downloads This Year

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Well, Android users, if you were starting to feel like the odd man out for downloading your apps not from Apple’s App Store but rather from the Android Marketplace, prepare to feel a whole lot better about yourself and your place in the tech universe. As it turns out, you’re part of a growing movement that’s expected to grow past Apple this year, and that, reportedly, is a first.

Apple iOS downloads are expected to hit fully six billion by the end of the year, and under normal circumstances that would be impressive enough for most anyone. At least until you consider that Android is set to rack up fully 8.1 billion downloads by the time the ball drops in Times Square this year. What’s more, total application downloads are set to climb fully 144% this year, so says word from the research firm Ovum.

And what’s more, Ovum figures that this trend will not slow down, for either app market. Consumers are set to carry right on downloading apps and finding new and exciting services for their mobile devices, as well as getting new ways to access their favorite online services that normally arrive via their desktops or laptops.

What’s behind the big rise for Android? Well, a lot of factors go into that, at least by Ovum’s figuring. Tops on the list is the rise of Android itself, with a whole slew of devices, from tablets to smartphones to even some ereaders supporting the OS and its attendant apps. And naturally, the worldwide numbers help that significantly. And then, there is the support of places like GetJar, which you just heard about via our own Robert Nelson, as well as Amazon.

But for those of you looking to make the next Angry Birds, be forewarned–app consumers are set to get a lot more picky about what they download. At least, that’s what Ovum says, and I’m not inclined to disagree. It will be a tougher market for app developers, but for those with quality goods to offer, a much more potentially lucrative one, too.

So what do you guys think about this? Are you favoring Android over Apple for your apps? Or do you think both app markets are oversaturated as it is? Either way, head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!