Recent research from In-Stat forecasts more than 100 million apps store compatible mobile phones from multiple manufacturers will be shipping within five years.

App stores give marketers and advertisers have a new way to reach mobile audiences the mobile app store.  Apple’s debut of the iPhone Apps store has provided a platform for branded applications. 

“With greater capabilities in both running native applications and viewing ‘real Internet’ websites, smartphones have increased usage and user expectations for mobile content”, says David Chamberlain, In-Stat analyst. “Along with the expanding handset base, users are downloading more applications.  Reach for marketing applications is growing rapidly and those applications can provide prolonged engagement with the user and keep the advertiser’s brand in focus.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• Smartphones having a strong app store orientation will reach 30% of the global smartphone market by 2013, approaching nearly 100 million units.
  
• Survey respondents show iPhone users are by far the most active apps store users, significantly outpacing users of Blackberry, Palm OS or Windows Mobile phones.
  
• Application marketing, like all new advertising media, lacks consistent, accepted analytics many advertisers are accustomed to.