Samsung has provided an update on the performance of its bada handset platform, as the results of the company’s first bada Developer challenge were announced. The South Korean company said that the total number of application downloads from the store worldwide is “expected to surpass 50 million by December [2010],” which it said demonstrates “the rising popularity of bada apps among smartphone users.” Launched in France, Italy and the UK in September 2009, Samsung Apps is now available in 118 countries. It did not state how many apps it has in its portfolio, however.

Samsung recently began offering free apps to consumers as part of its efforts to drive interest in bada, as it continued to add devices to its portfolio which use the platform – six have been announced, forming its Wave family. The company also expects to have sold 5 million bada handsets by the end of 2010. During October 2010 it was suggested that the company had 4,000 apps available, with a target of offering 10,000 by the end of the year – an intention that will be aided by the increased penetration of bada devices in the market.

The bada Developer Challenge “attracted 2,077 developer teams from 54 countries,” with 34 winning applications sharing a pot of US$2.7 million – as well as receiving promotion via Samsung Apps store. The grand prize was won by Mooncoder from Poland, which picked-up a US$300,000 prize for its LittleSailor 3D yacht racing game.

The company also said that it is planning to introduce additional developer support programmes, including “online and offline education courses for bada programming, support for the publication of bada technical books and online Q&A’s via the bada Developer site developer.bada.com.”