iPhone apps for your business
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Nearly 1 billion applications have been downloaded from Apple's App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch, according to a countdown page on Apple's Web site.

As of publication time there were more than 930 million apps downloaded, which is a staggering figure considering that the App Store is less than a year old. The company also revealed the top 20 downloaded apps of all time, and this includes games Tap Tap Revenge, Super Monkey Ball, and Koi Pond, and a Facebook app.

It doesn't appear that the momentum is stopping either, as the upcoming iPhone 3.0 software is expected to attract even more developers because it will offer peer-to-peer connections, in-app purchases, and hardware accessories. Additionally, if a new iPhone surfaces this summer, there likely will be many new potential app buyers.

To celebrate the milestone, Apple is launching a promotion that will give away more than $13,000 worth of merchandise once the billionth app has been downloaded. The winner will get $10,000 in iTunes credit, a 17-inch MacBook Pro, a 32-GB iPod Touch, and a Time Capsule. Users who download apps are automatically entered for the prize, and non-iPhone users can enter here.

Places like MobiHand and Handango have been selling mobile apps for years, but the market really came to the forefront with the success of the App Store. Apple's rivals have definitely taken notice, and soon every major player will have an over-the-air way to distribute mobile programs.

Apple's competitors will be taking a few steps to differentiate their app stores, though. Google said its Android Market will be more open, Research In Motion's App World is more enterprise-friendly, Nokia's Ovi Store will integrate social networking and location, and Microsoft's Windows Marketplace for Mobile will allow users to be billed through their carriers.

InformationWeek has published an in-depth report on the use of business software on smartphones. Download the report here (registration required).