RIDING HIGH: Apple's app billings surged by 50 per cent in 2014, new figures show.
Apple and thousands of mobile software developers are feasting on people's ravenous app-etite for apps.
Users of iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches have spent almost $US500 million ($NZ642 million) on applications and in-app services during the first week of 2015, according to figures released on Thursday.
That's the highest weekly volume recorded by Apple since the company opened its App Store seven years ago and revolutionised the way people connect with online services and play games.
If sales continue at the same opening-week pace, Apple and the makers of the apps would split up about $US25 billion in revenue.
Apple's revenue-sharing formula calls for 70 per cent of app sales to be paid to the developers with the rest kept by the company.
This year's fast start came after Apple's app billings surged by 50 per cent in 2014, according to Thursday's breakdown.
The increase produced more than $US10 billion for app developers. That implies Apple reaped somewhere from $US4 billion to $USI5 billion in revenue from its App Store last year. Apple hasn't disclosed how much it made from the App Store last year.
The company's store offers more than 1.4 million mobile apps in 155 countries.
- AAP
