Unlike Apple, Google doesn’t quite brag about the number of apps in the Android Marketplace. Probably because Google is modest, or may be because Google doesn’t much care, at least not to the extent Apple does. Still, numbers are important, especially for the fans.  Usually more the number, larger the fan-base, more the developers, and eventually better the future for the OS itself. A recent report from AndroLib indicates that the total number of Android apps has surpassed the 50,000 mark. And that’s pure good news for all Android developers.

Apple is still fairly out of reach though, at least for now, whose numbers exceed 185,000 with over 4 billion downloads. But Android is growing fast, very fast. And at the current rate, it will surpass Apple eventually. Being free and open source matters? Probably.

The analytical data provided by AndroLib is quite impressive. The website clearly shows the distribution range for all major Android App markets.

[source: androlib.com]