Mobile app sales to reach $35 billion by 2014, report says

The number of applications downloaded to smartphones made by Apple Inc., Motorola Inc. and other manufacturers will surge by 60 percent a year and generate more than $35 billion by 2014, a report says.

Mobile-phone users will download 76.9 billion programs for games, news and entertainment by 2014, up from 10.9 billion this year, Framingham, Massachusetts-based research firm IDC said today in a statement.

Apple's iPhone has become the most sought-after phone in the U.S., according to Nielsen Co., in part because of the more than 300,000 apps that can be downloaded from the company's App Store, including the “Angry Birds” game and “TuneIn Radio” music program. The 80,000-plus apps available for phones based on Google Inc.'s Android platform has helped spur sales of the Motorola Droid, and other Android phones made by HTC Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co.

Google shares rose $2.41 to $594.62 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. Apple gained $1.11 to $321.67.