Iran's largest Android app market released its annual report, proudly outlining a thriving business with even more room for future growth. During the last Iranian year which ended on March 21, over 23,000 Android app developing teams across the country generated 1.8 trillion rials ($42.8 million) in revenues, a huge number for a sector in its early stages.
The figures are indicative of the fast-growing ICT sector, putting it under the spotlight and drawing investors in.
The statistics released by the company detail data spanning from March 2017 to March 2018.
According to the report, the direct and induced employment in the growing business currently stands at a staggering 31,000.
The income of gaming apps experienced a 94% year-on-year increase. The rest of the apps also saw a surge, 64% compared to the year which ended in March 2017.
The number of people who have downloaded Cafe Bazaar is 36 million, 29 million of whom are actively using it.
There are 5.3 million users utilizing the app on a daily basis, accessing 151,000 programs and games.
During the one-year period, the total number of downloads and updates conducted through Cafe Bazaar reached 1.6 billion, and 24.1 million comments were submitted on apps offered by the business. The users have rated the programs 61.8 million times.
>Samsung's Continued Dominance
The company has also released its winter report containing some interesting facts about Android users nationwide.
Data on Cafe Bazaar users can be expanded to the general public with a narrow margin of error since most Iranian Android users have the app market installed on their handsets.
By the end of winter, 85% of Android users have either Samsung or Huawei phones, with the Korean brand capturing the largest share equaling 52% and the Chinese brand taking 33%.
According to Bazaar's report, the most widely-used Android phone in Iran is Samsung's Galaxy J5 with a 10% share, closely followed by the Galaxy J7 with 9%.
The remaining popular phones include Galaxy J1 (3%), J2 (3%), A5 (3%), and Huawei P8 (2%).
>Detailed Sales Figures
During winter, most app purchases occurred at 10 a.m. and most gaming app purchases at 9 p.m.
The most in-app purchases of programs happened on Saturday (working day for Iranians).
During winter, the number of published adventure games experienced 40% growth, followed by religious programs with a 33% rise.
Among the programs available, Iranians are mostly consumers of free apps. Their second option is priced apps and they are least enthusiastic about those with in-app purchases.
The most popular category for Iranians is messaging services. Only in winter, messaging apps have been installed 1.6 million times.
The second most downloaded applications are video streaming services (796,000), followed by mobile tools (621,000) and shopping platforms (598,000).
The conclusion can be drawn that Iranians value staying in contact with one another above all, explaining the 40 Iranian users for Telegram.
A notable piece of information unrelated to the season is the number of programs in different areas. According to the report, educational programs hold 18% of all apps on Cafe Bazaar, and the next categories are religious content, books and mobile tools.
>Improved Infrastructure
Over the years the ICT sector and application of mobile phones have improved and expanded significantly in Iran.
According to 2018 Global Digital report released by Canadian social media management platform Hootsuite and UK-based marketing and advertising agency We Are Social, the number of Iranians social media users has skyrocketed indicating a 135% YoY jump.
Iran's total population stands at 80 million with 70% living in urban areas. The country reportedly has 56.7 million Internet users and Internet penetration is said to be 69%.
The total number of active mobile Internet users is 51.7 million up 63% compared to Jan 2017. The number of active mobile SIMs has registered a 4 million (3%) YoY increase.
An estimated 125 million SIM cards have been sold in the country so far, of which 83 million are active. Some 73% of the subscribers use pre-paid services and 27% post-paid. Over 50% of the mobile SIMs support broadband Internet (3G and/or 4G).
With adequate investment, the ICT sector can be the key to alleviating the high employment.
