Cross-platform app store GetJar has named eBuddy, Opera Mini, Nimbuzz, mig33 and Facebook as its five most downloaded apps to date. The five apps have achieved a combined total of more than 100 million downloads and also comprise the top five GetJar downloads for October 2009.
Downloads from the site have rocketed from 15 million in October 2008, to 55 million in October 2009. GetJar has released the figures to coincide with the launch of its new, consumer-facing website.
With the exception of the hugely popular Opera Mini browser, the top five apps are focused on social networking. This, says GetJar, reflects the huge consumer demand to stay connected on the go via their mobile phone, even when there is the option to make a phone call.
Download figures are as follows:
- eBuddy – Instant Messaging: 27.4 million
- Opera Mini – mobile Internet browser: 25.3 million
- Nimbuzz – VoIP calls and Instant Messaging: 21.6 million
- Mig33 Instant Messaging and community application: 15.4 million
- Facebook mobile access to the hugely popular social network: 14.4 million
As these figures show, the popularity of GetJar continues to grow as consumer demand for mobile apps becomes more and more global, says GetJar CEO and Founder, Ilja Laurs. The exciting news for developers and brands is that apps are in high demand not only from consumers using Blackberry, Symbian and Android phones (all of which are supported on GetJar) but also on feature phones of all types such as the Sony Ericsson W995 and the LG Viewty.
Quizzed as to why these particular apps are so successful, Laurs says:
The social networking phenomenon has changed the way we communicate and users want to continue to stay in touch on the go, via their mobile. In addition, apps on GetJar are free and work on over 1,700 handsets across all major platforms, so whether you are using an Android phone or just a plain Motorola youre guaranteed to find all the apps you need in just one place.
GetJars new website is now live, offering a new, more intuitive user interface and more apps for more types of handset than ever before. The site can instantly show the right apps for a users phone, upon submission of the users mobile phone number.