A new study from research2guidance shows that the market for apps is continually moving toward segmentation and niche stores. The Apple app store, which launched in July 2008, has contributed significantly to the rise of niche apps. The study defines three types of niche stores: Platform-oriented (apps for a specific OS platform such as AndroidPIT or Crackberry a.k.a. BlackBerry), target group-oriented (apps for a segment of users, such as business, adults, kids) and carve outs (mobile network operator with its own app store in the Android Market or something like “@work” by Apple).
Some all-encompassing apps do not stand up to niche apps, which take a more focused look at a smaller segment of the bigger picture. For example, CapAndCompass.com wrote about the difference between the University of Virginia’s “everything” app, which looks like an entire university jammed onto a screen versus the niche University of Georgia undergraduate admissions and career center apps.
There is an estimated 500,000 apps in the Android Market. The Apple App Store boasts more than 500,000 apps for the iPhone4S alone.
How many niche apps do you have on your mobile device? Tell us in the comments.
