Apple's App Store first opened the door of its application market in August 2008. Now, it is leading the world application market including Google's Android Market, Nokia's Ovi Store, Microsoft's Marketplace, and Samsung's Apps. A British research company, Gartner, released the result that Apple's App Store occupied 90% of the world application market last year.

 According to Nick O'Neill, who is the founder of The Social Times(www.socialtimes.com), the most downloaded applications were game applications in Apple's App Store. Apple's iTunes provides the top 100 chart of applications. It covered free game applications, such as Sky Burger and Bubble Ball, and paid game applications, such as Cut the Rope and Moonlight Mahjong. Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja are game applications offered for free or with a charge.

 The current trend is an increase in developing utility applications. Utility applications last longer in smart phones because of the users' needs. According to the electronic edition of Forbes, Dinner Spinner and Laundry Pal are popular utility applications of Apple's App Store all over the world. Dinner Spinner lets users know what kind of food can be cooked with ingredients which the users have at that time. Laundry Pal informs users how to wash their clothes when the users don't know how. 

 On February 9, Apple eased its development policy which was exclusive, so the status of Apple's App Store will maintain its number one ranking in the world application market.

By Kong Hae-gyoung

hg31@cbnu.ac.kr