An increase in handset sales and a surge in its ad share are both positive indicators for Android, but most important from a development perspective is the number of apps headed to its marketplace.

According to stats collated by 148apps.biz – re-published by asymco – app submissions to Android Market are now roughly equal to the number being made to the App Store.

Apps for Android

Figures for October have both topping the 20,000 mark for the first time, with the App Store slightly ahead.



It's the sheer rate of acceleration in app submissions that will be most cause for celebration for Android, however.

At the start of the year, 148apps.biz's figures suggest less than 5,000 new apps a month were being submitted to Android Market, compared the 20,000 plus apps the App Store was receiving.

Now, in less than a year, Android Market has as good as pulled level with its rival, although with books reportedly the most popular category, it's likely iPhone will still holds the advantage when it comes to games submissions.

[source: asymco]