App Store downloads reach 30B, $5B paid to developers

The iOS App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch has reached the 30 billion download mark, Apple announced on Monday, and $5 billion has been paid out to developers.

There are more than 650,000 applications available on the App Store as of today, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook announced at the 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. Of those, 225,000 have been built specifically for the iPad.

Cook took the opportunity to take a shot at tablets running Google Android, noting that "just a few hundred" applications are available for tablets that run competing platforms.

The chief executive also noted to the developer-centric crowd that there are more than 400 million active accounts with credit cards now on the iTunes Store, which includes App Store purchases. Cook said it's the largest number of accounts with credit cards anywhere on the Internet.

The App Store continues to expand, as well, as Cook revealed that the digital download destination will be opening in 32 new countries. That will bring availability of the App Store to 155 countries total.