Android tablet apps reach 440 million downloads

The arrival of Google's Android™ 4.0 may push the mobile operating system to new levels in the tablet computer market, where it continues to trail Apple® and its iPad®.

According to ABI Research, Android tablets have approximately 440 million application downloads so far -- a far cry from the 3 billion downloads for the iPad. However, Android tablets may be primed for a substantial jump in the coming months, as Android 4.0, known as Ice Cream Sandwich, becomes more prevalent.

Ice Cream Sandwich was introduced in late 2011, and runs on both smartphones and tablet computers. Unlike previous versions of the mobile operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich features apps optimized -- not just available -- for tablet computers. This, industry observers say, could be instrumental to Android's success in the tablet market.

Android followed a similar trend in the smartphone market, where it trailed Apple and others for some time. In 2010 and 2011, Android made huge leaps to become the fastest-selling smartphone platform. If Google can repeat this move again, it may find itself firmly established in the increasingly competitive tablet market.