Google's browser apps hit 'millions of downloads a day'

Google Chrome users are now downloading millions of web apps a day, as the group’s app store comes up to the first anniversary of its launch.

Rahul Roy-Chowdhury, senior product manager for Chrome, said he was “delighted” with the progress of the web store, which offers apps from news and retail companies to music and books.

A spokesman for Google said: “We’re now seeing millions of installs per day from the Chrome Web Store from our base of over 200 million active Chrome users.”

Google launched the Chrome Web Store in December 2010 with several hundred apps. According to a spokesman for the group it now has over 30,000 apps, themes and extensions to customise the Chrome browser.

The company redesigned its web store in October, and since then the company has seen installs a day double. Google has attempted to bring the success of apps from smartphones and tablets to its internet browser.

Mr Roy-Chowdhury said: “Our aim is to continue to build on this excellent momentum, and create a Web Store that serves the retail, social and productivity needs of our users. As more and more retailers and developers see the growth of the Chrome Web Store, we're confident that they'll join us.”

Robin Landy, chief executive of discount retail notification site InvisibleHand, outlined the importance of web apps to its business: "Since the Web store relaunch, we've seen daily downloads of InvisibleHand increase by over 50%. On some days downloads have more than doubled. That's good for our business."

Mat Clayton, co-founder of digital radio site Mixcloud added: "This drives site traffic, by reminding users to launch Mixcloud as they start browsing. As well as helping retain current users, the Chrome App store has also enabled us to reach a new international audience."

Web apps are programmes designed to be used within the browser. Some are little more than links to websites, others are specifically designed for use with Chrome and have different features.

Google has taken the web apps store to 31 countries outside the US. The web apps do not generate significant revenue for Google. If the companies used Google’s payment software it takes a 5 per cent transaction fee, otherwise it does not charge.