Global market for mobile apps will reach $17.5 billion by 2012

The Getjar research claimed that there were 7 billion app downloads during 2009, with this figure expected to explode to 50 billion by 2012.

And it's not just app downloads which are set to increase. The number of online outlets where you can obtain them is expanding from just four in 2007 to today's 48.

The best known store is, of course, Apple's App Store, which blazed a trail for the model of selling mobile phone app downloads, and which dominates the market at the moment.

Perhaps not surprisingly, given the fact that Getjar is an online app store, the study questions whether Apple will retain its current domination in terms of apps available, number of downloads, and value of downloads.

He predicted to the emergence of alternative models to the App Store's pay to download model, such as advertising funded apps.

"I wouldn't say it is going to die, but the industry is going to evolve in alternative directions ," said Getjar's Mr Laurs.

But according to web analytics company, Flurry, the App Store shows now sign of slowing down. Flurry said there had been an enormous 185% increase in developer activity since Apple announced the iPad.

'We have definitely seen a shift back to the iPhone with the anticipation of the iPad and a little bit of the disappointment with the Nexus One,' said Flurry CEO, Simon Khalaf.

'Definitely there has been a rush of applications. It will invite a new wave of developers and it is a very cool device so people are going to develop for it.'