Apple App Store hit record $300mn in sales on New Year s Day

San Francisco Jan 5 (IANS) Apple users spent a record $300 million on purchasing or downloading apps and games from App Store on January 1 -- the biggest ever since App Store s launch in July 2008.

During the week starting on Christmas Eve customers spent over $890 million in purchases or downloaded apps in that seven-day period the Cupertino-based iPhone maker said on Friday.

"We are thrilled with the reaction to the new App Store and to see so many customers discovering and enjoying new apps and games " said Phil Schiller Apple s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing.

"In 2017 alone iOS developers earned $26.5 billion a" more than a 30 per cent increase over 2016 " Schiller added.

Since the App Store s launch iOS developers have earned over $86 billion.

Pokemon GO went back to the top of the App Store charts on December 21 with the introduction of new Augmented Reality (AR) features built on Apple s ARKit framework for more detailed and realistic gameplay.

"Customers are now enjoying close to 2 000 ARKit-enabled apps spanning every category on the App Store " Apple said.

Among the most popular AR titles are games such as "CSR Racing 2" "Stack AR" and "Kings of Pool"; shopping apps like Amazon and Wayfair; education apps including "Night Sky" and "Thomas & Friends Minis"; and social media apps including Pitu and Snapchat.

--IANS
na/ksk