By Gurmukh Singh

New York, July 8 (IANS) In another milestone for the world's top technology company, Apple Wednesday announced that its App Store has crossed 15 billion downloaded apps.

App Store now offers more than 425,000 apps and there are over 200 million iPhone, iPad and iPod users in over 90 countries, according to Apple.

In a statement, the Cupertino-based tech giant said, "Over 15 billion apps have been downloaded from its revolutionary App Store by the more than 200 million iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users worldwide. The App Store offers more than 425,000 apps and developers have created an incredible array of over 100,000 native iPad apps.''

Over 100,000 apps have been developed specifically for the larger screen of iPad.

Apple said it has paid over $2.5 billion till now to app developers who get 70 percent of all revenue generated by the sale of apps.

Apple's apps come in 20 broad categories, including games, business, news, education, sports, health, reference and travel.

Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said, "In just three years, the revolutionary App Store has grown to become the most exciting and successful software marketplace the world has ever seen.

"Thank you to all of our amazing developers who have filled it with over 425,000 of the coolest apps and to our over 200 million iOS users for surpassing 15 billion downloads.''

Apple's iOS is the most popular operating system in the the fast increasing tablet market where its iPad remains the top-seller. iPad sales have crossed 25 million units since its launch April last year.

In fact, iPad's dominance of the tablet market is so complete that its sales are rising every month. Though figures for the June quarter are not available yet, reports say Apple has sold about eight million iPads during the period.