Apple's App Store to hit 25 billion downloads

Apple has announced that the iTunes App Store will soon clock up 25 billion downloads.

The online marketplace for over 500,000 iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch applications was only launched back in July 2008.

Downloads topped the 15 billion mark last summer.

In celebration of the milestone, Apple has announced that the user to download the 25 billionth app will receive a $10,000 (£6,300) gift card to use at the store.

It is also possible to enter the competition without purchase by completing a short form. Individuals are able to keep track of the App Store progress via an online countdown.

Word processor Pages and game Angry Birds are the most downloaded paid apps of all time, while on demand services BBC iPlayer and ITV Player top the free app rankings.

Apple announced earlier this month that it is clamping down on developers who artificially inflate the store rankings of their apps.