Mobile App Revenue Outlook Remains Healthy Despite Slowing Download Volumes and Smartphone Growth, According to IDC

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--()--Mobile device users installed nearly 156 billion mobile applications worldwide in 2015, generating $34.2 billion in direct (non-advertising) revenue. A new forecast from International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that these figures will grow to more than 210 billion installs and nearly $57 billion in direct revenue in 2020.

While the market will continue to grow throughout the forecast period, IDC expects to see slower growth in both application install volumes and direct revenue over time. This trend, which is largely driven by market maturation, will see annual install growth fall into the single digits over the second half of the forecast. Mobile application install volume will still experience a five year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. Meanwhile, direct revenue from mobile applications will also experience slower growth by the end of the forecast period, although the five year CAGR will remain in the double digits at 10.6%.

Apple's App Store "ecosystem" captured nearly 58% of global direct app revenue in 2015, an increase of 36% year over year. Meanwhile, Apple's share of global app install volume was only 15%, down nearly 8% year over year. The sheer volume of Android-based devices in use ensures a greater overall number of installs through Google Play, which captured about 60% of install volume and nearly 36% of direct revenue in 2015. Although Google Play enjoyed solid year-over-year growth in both downloads and direct revenues, the gains were somewhat lower than in previous years. Apple is expected to continue outperforming Google Play in terms of revenue generation. However both ecosystems are more than sufficiently established to sustainably attract developers.

"While they provide a convenient measure of the mobile app economy and its beneficiaries, we caution that preoccupation with download/install volumes and associated direct revenue may miss the thrust of changes in the mobile marketplace," said John Jackson, Research Vice President, Mobile and Connected Platforms. "Facebook and Google continue to dominate mobile ad spending thanks to the scale and sophistication of their network effects, with Facebook's moves to incorporate news and other interests into its experience will likely pull traffic and install volumes away from discreet apps. Similarly, the emergence of 'bots', which seek to automate interactions in a contextually infused way, are another in a series of examples of value being created above the OS layer and even above the app."

The IDC study, Worldwide Mobile Applications Forecast, 2016-2020 (Doc #US41100816), provides historical data and a five-year forecast for mobile application install activity and direct revenue at the worldwide level and for 63 countries. Similar data is presented for the Apple App Store and Google Play ecosystems. The report also discusses significant market developments, key market drivers and inhibitors, and provides guidance for mobile application providers.

About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC.

Contacts

IDC
John Jackson, 508 935 4255
jjackson@idc.com
or
Michael Shirer, 508-935-4200
press@idc.com

Release Summary

A new forecast from IDC estimates that mobile device users worldwide will install more than 210 billion mobile applications and generate nearly $57 billion in direct revenue in 2020.

Contacts

IDC
John Jackson, 508 935 4255
jjackson@idc.com
or
Michael Shirer, 508-935-4200
press@idc.com