Research from IHS Screen Digest found that Apple generated 82.7 percent of the total global application store revenue in 2010, more than doubling its figure to US$1.8 billion from US$768.7 million in 2009. While the company is a clear leader in the market, its share has decreased from 92.8 percent in 2009, as competition from rivals hotted-up. Global revenue for the total app store market increased by 160 percent to US$2.2 billion, with Google’s Android Market seeing the biggest growth – up 862 percent to US$102 million.

Interestingly, according to the figures, BlackBerry App World ranked second in terms of revenue, with its US$165 million share accounting for 7.7 percent of the market. This was followed by Nokia’s Ovi Store, with US$105 million of revenue and 4.9 percent market share, and Android Market, with $102 million revenue and 4.7 percent share. Apple will have a more than 50 percent share “at least through 2014,” the research firm says.

According to IHS Screen Digest, Apple benefitted in 2010 from the introduction of the iPad. Despite the small installed user base, iPad apps cost more than iPhone apps, giving them “a disproportionate impact on revenue.” It forecasts that by 2014, about half of Apple’s App Store revenue in the US will be generated by the iPad, compared with less than 20 percent in 2010.

The company is forecasting growth of 81.5 percent in the market during 2011, to hit US$3.9 billion. A key driver of growth will be the “freemium” business model, as developers look to attract customers with free content before then monetising products via in-app purchases and advertising. Fremium purchases will count for around half of all North American app revenues by 2014, up from 24 percent in 2010, and higher for games.