Google's Android Market has overtaken Apple's App Store for iPhone in March for the number of free applications on offer.
The figures from Distimo are only available for the US but is considered a lead indicator for worldwide trends and Australia in particular. According to Distimo, Android's Marketplace hit 134,342 free apps compared to Apple's iPhone at 121,845.
Apple's App store remains the biggest hub for smartphone apps when paid and free apps are combined but Distimo said Google's Android Market will become the biggest store for all smartphone applications in five months if it continues its current growth rate.
Apple had 333,214 free and paid apps on offer for the iPhone in March, compared to 206,143 for Android, but Android grew 16% year on year compared to 6% for Apple.
The researcher also said Apple's iPad would confront its "first serious competition" for tablets with Blackberry and Google about to enter the market.
"Apple has already seized momentum and grown the App Store for iPad in the first year to 75,755 applications," Distimo said. "Daily downloads in the Top 100 paid and free applications for iPad exceed 500,000 while the daily revenue in the Top 100 paid is approximately $400,000, excluding in-app purchases."
Distimo said 58% of the 50 most popular publishers have already developed applications for non-Apple platforms.
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