Apple said that more than 15 billion apps have been downloaded from its App Store by more than 200 million iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users worldwide. In a statement, the company said that its store now offers more than 425,000 apps, including an “incredible array” of more than 100,000 native iPad titles. It said that it has paid out more than US$2.5 billion to its developers to date.

The company reached its 10 billion download milestone in January 2011, two-and-a-half years after launching the store. Interestingly, while it took nearly two years to build to the 5 billion download mark in June 2010, it took seven months to achieve the next five billion, and six months to achieve the five billion after that.

According to various analyst reports, in terms of catalogue, Android Market will overtake the Apple App Store in August 2011. However, it has also been noted that Apple’s App Store market share by download has started to stabilise, following the entry of new competitors into the market, aided by the growth of the iPad customer base – users who are often heavy app consumers. Apple also benefits from having a healthy installed app user base.

In a statement, Philip Schiller, Apple’s SVP of Worldwide Product Marketing, said that: “In just three years, the revolutionary App Store has grown to become the most exciting and successful software marketplace the world has ever seen.”