Fart Apps are Fun, but News, Games and Book apps are Sticky
I saw this short article on NYtimes - a report on user retention rates on various category of apps.
Flurry Inc (an app-tracking San Fran start-up) tracked more than 1,800 apps and 75 million consumers on iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and JavaME. They wanted to see if users returned to use an app within 30,60 and 90 days.
I think the results were fairly predictable:
* News & reference apps are used the most — more than once a day at a rate of 11 times per week.
* Social networking apps are used six times a week.
* Health and fitness apps are used 7 times a week.
* Games are used 7.4 times a week.
* Book-related apps are used 10 times a week.
I was a bit surprised to see that social networking apps are used only 6 times a week, while book-related apps are used 10 times a week. I thought I was the only mobile bookworm - people seem surprised if I tell them I'm re-reading Ulysses on iPhone at the moment, having started with Les Miserables and worked my way through several shorter texts.
The NYtimes comments that 'it’s only a matter of time before Apple tries to turn the iPod touch/iPhone into e-book readers'. Bit of a strange statement when you consider that the iPhone is already an e-book reader. Perhaps what they mean is Apple might exploit the iPhone/iPod touch by providing a pay-per-download service for printed matter.
I for one would be an avid customer. I've already been extremely frustrated with Amazon's Kindle app - not available to UK customers, which has left me ordering printed books that take ages to deliver, when I want to read them NOW. These are the type of book I know I'll read quickly, just the once, and will give away. The type of book I want on mobile.
If Apple are quick enough and their library big enough, Apple iBooks could become yet another way for me to spend mobile money.
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