Since the Apple App store opened on July 10, 2008, it has paid out more than $4 billion to iOS developers--70 percent of the $5.71 billion it has booked in revenue.
Pretty big numbers, right?
Well, yes and no. Yes, those are big numbers that make my head spin and dwarf my personal tax return. At the same time, the real answer has to be no.
In the mobile commerce world, $4 billion is significant, but it's not a headline. It's more of a line item on a table that includes some much bigger numbers.
For example, in 2011 alone eBay accounted for $5 billion in mobile sales, double its 2010 mobile sales. Gartner projects mobile commerce will be a $31 billion market by 2016, with consistent growth of 39 percent compounded annually.
The Apple App Store will certainly be part of the mobile commerce ecosystem, but it will be a small part that shrinks proportionally over time for the following reasons.
The profitable Apps are free games
Digging deeper into the numbers from the Apple App Store reveals that the apps making money are overwhelmingly free games selling virtual goods.industry experts have estimated its revenues at $1 million-$3 million a day. Media reports now talk about an IPO valuation of $5 billion after a source recently said the company had filed to go public in theUnited States.Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-candy-crush-makes-so-much-money-2013-10#ixzz3 Un6kxXi4
HEre is another source:http://www.businessinsider.com/how-candy-crush-makes-so-much-money-2013-10
they state that the number globally could be 85 billion most of that is iOS
there far more but have not the time. I did and do my research. Tim Cook mentioned the numbers during the september event. Follow the money. There was an article on Forbes that talked about the app lottery Just couple of days ago. Please keep in mind these links were quick look ups but there are more detailed earnings reports you can find regarding the sale of iOS apps.