Apps are probably where it's at in today's competitive phone software market. They seem to be the benchmark for popularity. With Apple iTune App store setting the trend, the Android technology of Google is fast catching up. In the last one year, the apps of the latter have gone up to 20,000 with a record 350 applications and games published on a single day in November 2009.

The statistics are courtesy Androlib, which has been tracking Android apps since its release. The more popular apps are surprisingly non-gaming. Over 80% apps have 5 star rating implying very satisfied customers. The main decisive factor for an app is its ability to simplify the user's routine, integrate into his repertoire of behaviors, and complete their assigned tasks; which is why the popular platforms are iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, webOS, BlackBerry, and Symbian with apps for Twitter, Facebook, Google, Bing, YouTube, Wikipedia, Amazon, eBay, Flickr, Windows Live, AOL etc.

The top of the line still remains Apple iPhone, yet interestingly, the technology is Google's Android. Users are eagerly awaiting the Nexus, Google's own handset with end-to-end integration of the popular apps like Goggles, My Tracks, Finance, Voice, Google search, Sync, Gmail, Latitude, and other services.