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The App Store at 15: How Apps Revolutionized the iPhone Experience and Created a Global Economy

July 10, 2008: The Day That Changed the iPhone Forever

Fifteen years ago, on July 10, 2008, a pivotal event occurred that would transform the iPhone into a groundbreaking device. That momentous day marked the launch of the App Store by Apple. Up until then, the iPhone had boasted revolutionary design and a user-friendly interface, but it lacked the ability to truly harness its potential. It was only through the involvement of third-party developers that the iPhone could truly become the remarkable device we know today.

Interestingly, Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder of Apple, initially resisted the idea of third-party apps on the iPhone. However, in early 2009, Apple fully embraced the burgeoning app economy, recognizing its immense value in enhancing the iPhone experience. This shift in perspective was underscored by Apple’s own advertising campaign, which proudly proclaimed, “There’s an app for that.”

Over the course of the past 15 years, apps have revolutionized the way we communicate, play games, discover new music, and even find love. They have not only transformed our daily lives but have also created unprecedented opportunities for independent developers across the globe.

A Game-Changing Industry

A recent study commissioned by Apple and conducted by the Analysis Group sheds light on the staggering impact of the App Store. Since its launch, users have downloaded over 370 billion apps, generating a staggering $320 billion in revenue for developers. Last year alone, the Apple App Store contributed to a remarkable $1.1 trillion in payments and revenues, more than doubling the figures of 2019.

Statista, a renowned statistics portal, has produced insightful infographics based on the Analysis Group’s data. The graphics reveal that sales of physical goods and services within iOS apps constitute the largest share of total sales and payments generated on the App Store. This is a testament to the increasing trend of mobile commerce, as consumers now prefer shopping on their smartphones while brands and retailers rely less on their individual apps. Notably, general retail emerges as the dominant segment in this category.

As we reflect on the 15-year journey of the App Store, it is evident that its impact on our lives cannot be understated. From enhancing productivity to facilitating entertainment, and from fueling economic growth to empowering developers worldwide, the App Store has truly transformed the digital landscape we inhabit.

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[ 매드타임스 한수경 기자] What happened on July 10, 2008, 15 years ago?

That day Apple launched the App Store. Before the launch of the App Store, the iPhone may have been innovative in terms of design and user interface, but it was not much different from a feature phone. The iPhone could only become iPhone-like when third-party developers got involved.

It was known that Steve Jobs was initially against having third party apps on the iPhone, but Apple fully embraced the app economy as an integral part of the iPhone experience in early 2009 with the launch of the App Store. Early iPhone ads even used the slogan “There’s an app for that.”

Over the past 15 years, apps have fundamentally changed the way we communicate, play games, date, listen to music and more, all while creating tremendous opportunities for independent developers around the world.

According to the “Continued Growth and Resilience of the Apple App Store Ecosystem” study commissioned by Apple and conducted by the Analysis Group, users have downloaded more than 370 billion apps over the past 15 years, and developers have made $320 billion in the App Store since the launch of their apps. has earned more than In addition, more than $ 1.1 trillion of payments and revenues were generated in the Apple App Store last year. This is more than double from 2019, when it was estimated to total $519 billion.

Statista produced and shared the following graphics based on Analysis Group data. According to this graphic, of the total sales and payments generated in the App Store, sales of physical goods and services within iOS apps accounted for the largest share. As more and more consumers shop on mobile devices, and brands and retailers are no longer forced to have their own apps, general retail is the largest segment in this category.

source statistics

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