50 billionth app downloader receives $10,000 from Apple

As Apple announced hitting their 50 billion download milestone, the 50 billionth app downloader was awarded a $10,000 prize.

The California-based company said that the number of downloaded mini-programs from its App Store has hit 50 billion and in celebration of the moment, it gave Ohio-based Brandon Ashmore a $10,000 App Store gift card for downloading the 50 billionth app. He downloaded Say the Same Thing, a free word game developed by Space Inch LLC.

“We’re absolutely floored to cross this milestone in less than five years,” said Eddy Cue , the Apple senior vice president of internet software and services, adding that “The App Store completely transformed how people use their mobile devices and created a thriving app ecosystem that has paid out over nine billion dollars to developers.”

According to Apple, the average rate of the mini-programs downloads from the App Store are 800 per second. The online store has over 850,000 apps for iOS device users today, a long way from the 500 apps that it opened its virtual doors with five years ago in July 2008.