Android market

The Android Market first became available for users in October 2008. Support for the paid apps followed in February 2009 throughout the UK and US. Support for a further 29 countries came in September 2010.

In February 2011 Google provided download access to the Android Market via PC. May 2011 app lists were added which included categories such as: "Top Grossing"; "Top Developers"; "Trending" and "Editors Recommendations" as a means of displaying the ever widening range of apps available which eventually included "new book sales" and "movie rentals".

The release of the Motorola Xoom tablet included an update of the redesigned Android Market. Probably one of the most notable apps is the Music Store, this provides both music downloads and applications such as players.

By May 2011, around 200,000 apps were already available in the Android Market with more than 4.5 million downloads. About 67% of these apps are free of charge compared with Apple's App Store having just 37% free of charge apps.