Android-iOS Rivalry Heats up as Apple Takes Shot at Google

Apple announced its app store has seen more than 15 billion downloads in its three year existence.

The app store is a fixture on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. There are 425,000 apps and developers have created 100,000 native iPad apps. Overall, the app store is where 200 million iOS device users find new ways to stay entertained through their phones, tablets and mp3 players.

In just three years, the revolutionary App Store has grown to become the most exciting and successful software marketplace the world has ever seen, Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said in a statement.

The company also said $2.5 billion dollars has been paid out to app developers.

This announcement comes shortly after Google was bragging about its own app store success with its Marketplace. The company said the Android Market has approached five billion downloads, with the last billion coming in the last few months.

Both Apple and Google seem to be experiencing rocket growth from their app stores. Google added one billion in two months and Apple added five billion in six months. Google also said there are a half a million Android devices being activated every day.

The two companies have feuded in the past. Apple chief executive once took a direct shot at Google on an earnings call by saying Google calling Android open and Apple closed was dishonest and not true. He said people prefer the integrated ecosystem as it makes it easier for them to go from device to device.

With both experiencing this kind of growth, it's fair to say both philosophies have caught on with users.

Follow Gabriel Perna on Twitter at @GabrielSPerna