Apple Amps Up Promotion for 50 Billion App Milestone

Apple today increased its promotion for the upcoming milestone of 50 billion downloads from the App Store, an event the company is marking with a contest in which the person who downloads the 50 billionth app will receives a $10,000 iTunes Store gift card while the next 50 downloaders will receive $500 gift cards each.

apple_50_billion_solar_walk
The milestone is now being promoted as the main feature on Apple's front page, with an animated counter being accompanied by a rotating series of iPad mini app photos with associated facts to put the "50 billion" number in perspective:

- "With 50 billion steps, you could walk around the earth more than 800 times." [Solar Walk]

- "With 50 billion bricks, you could build 12 Great Walls of China." [ProCamera HD]

- "Counting to 50 billion would take you 1600 years." [Intro to Math, by Montessorium]

Apple announced the contest one week ago, and the counter stood at slightly over 49.2 billion downloads at the time. With the counter now registering a little over 49.6 billion downloads, it should take just under another week to reach the milestone.

(Thanks, Ben!)

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Top Rated Comments

MasterHowl Avatar
151 months ago
I would literally cry with happiness if I won a $10,000 iTunes Store gift card. I'd never have to spend another penny on music again!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LagunaSol Avatar
151 months ago
Pfft, Android hit 50 billion pirated app downloads like 6 months ago. ;)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iGrip Avatar
151 months ago
Billions and Billions Served!

You can always tell what is the absolute finest quality by how many items get sold.

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest hamburger? McDonalds sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest computer OS? Windows sells billions, so it must be the best!

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!


That is the only way that this campaign makes any sense whatsoever. Apple has brilliant marketing! /s
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TouchMint.com Avatar
151 months ago
Cant wait for one of my apps to be downloaded as the 50 billionth app. =) What a promo that would be!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xkmxkmxlmx Avatar
151 months ago
You can always tell what is the absolute finest quality by how many items get sold.

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest hamburger? McDonalds sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest computer OS? Windows sells billions, so it must be the best!

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!


That is the only way that this campaign makes any sense whatsoever. Apple has brilliant marketing! /s

Or you know, they are just pinting out a milestone. I don't think they mention anywhere how "quality" the apps are. Just that the store is hitting a big milestone for them. What is the big deal?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
samcraig Avatar
151 months ago
I would almost bet 10K that the app named as the 50 billionth will not be a Google app. Or a Samsung one.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)