iOS app downloads per user projected to jump 61% this year

It turns out there could be more to Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) boast last week about the 15 billionth app download via the App Store. If the latest prediction from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster proves to be correct, Apple’s massive catalog and user base will help drive iOS device users to download an average of 83 apps this year.
It’s hard to see how a 61% jump in per-user downloads could happen without the rapidly expanding catalog on the App Store, which counts more than twice as many apps as Google Inc.’s (GOOG) Android Market.
“Smartphone users are showing an increasing appetite to use apps to add features to their phones and iOS has the leading app ecosystem,” Munster wrote, adding that the average selling price per app is on the up as well thanks to more expensive apps for the iPad. “After the initial race to the bottom in App Store pricing, we are seeing users pay up to add features and games to their iOS devices.”