Mobile apps will soon me more popular than ‘stationary internet’. User numbers for mobile apps are growing 15 times faster than those for plain ol’ desktop internet.

According to a survey by research2guidance, the global app user base has grown 251% over the last five years. Despite the fact that the stationary internet user base is still twice it’s size, its 16% growth rate means it’s estimated to be eclipsed in just a matter of years.

It’s an exciting time for mobile app development as the figures show just how popular mobile apps are and how quickly they will become a vital part of everyone’s lives. Mobile apps certainly don’t seem to be a fad.

Of course, the growth has been driven by apps themselves and the wide range available. Apps add context to smartphones and turn them into a vital everyday tool, without apps smartphone users wouldn’t have their hand permanent welded to their device. The increase in mobile app uptake will only serve to drive this forward further still. And with the advent of cheaper smartphones and their natural drop in cost – as with all technology – mobile subscribers will continue to grow with more and more possessing devices that support apps.

The news is likely to strike a chord with those businesses who have yet to adopt mobile too. Not does mobile need to play a significant part in their marketing strategy, but they will also need to look at how the use of mobile apps will impact their IT department and systems. As mobile apps become a more ingrained way of life, businesses are already beginning to look at the possibilities of using mobile aps for internal use, enabling staff to work quickly and easily on the go.

According to research2guidance, an increase in mergers and acquisitions is also likely, as companies buy apps and mobile services to keep pace with market development. This will see an increasing role for Apple’s App Transfer initiative and companies like Apptopia.

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