Apple's App Store tops 10 billion downloads

Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store reached the 10 billion application download milestone over the weekend, less than three years after the digital storefront first opened for business. According to Apple, a consumer in Kent, U.K. purchased the 10 billionth download--the game Paper Glider--and will receive a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card.

Apple notes that the App Store now offers more than 350,000 iOS applications in all, spanning 20 categories including business, news, sports, health, reference and travel--in addition, there are now more than 60,000 native apps for the iPad tablet. Apple adds that consumers downloaded 7 billion apps in the last year alone.

The App Store launched on July 11, 2008 in conjunction with the U.S. retail debut of the iPhone 3G. At that time, the store featured just 552 applications. Sister publication FierceDeveloper presents a complete history of the App Store's evolution here.

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