Netsize has released an updated version of its Application Store Billing report. First published in May 2010, Netsize says the report is the first to identify and document the characteristics of a winning and competitive app store.
The report incorporates latest analysis of emerging mobile device ecosystems and application store trends, drawing from research by ABI Research, Chetan Sharma Consulting, Deutsche Bank, Juniper Research and VisionMobile, as well as the Netsize mobile market trend survey.
The report also contains fully updated Netsize rankings of top-70 application stores, including ranking by app store type (platform, device, operator, independent, directory) and app type (free apps, paid apps, total apps).
Analyzing business models, the report identifies a number of key characteristics for success. These include convenience (discoverability and finding everything in one place); compatibility (apps specific to the device); choice (a wide selection to choose from); and ease of payment. The report also identifes global reach; a solid infrastructure including flexible payment systems, analytics and merchandizing tools; and an app store´s marketing power as key enablers for app developer success.
You can download a free copy of the report here.