Android market now counts over 500,000 apps

The Android market now counts over 500,000 apps, according to new data published by a third-party research company in a sign the market is catching up fast with Apple’s own marketplace.

According to research firm research2guidance, the number of apps available on the market topped 500,000 in September.

However, the research also found that 37% of applications published in the Android market were later removed, while Apple has removed just 24% of its apps.

“Although Apple regularly cleans up its store from in appropriate or outdated content, its active application share still exceeds that of Android,” the firm said in a statement.

“It is likely that the more rigid application submission requirements prevent developers from publishing multiple trial or low quality applications whereas publishers in the Android Market place a lot of market testing, trials, demo and malware content.”