While originally developing iPhone prior to its unveiling in 2007, Apple's then- CEO Steve Jobs did not intend to let third-party developers build native apps for iOS, instead directing them to make web applications for the Safari web browser. History Download on the App Store badge as of 2017 In October 2021, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) concluded that in-app commissions from Apple’s App Store are anti-competitive and would demand that Apple change its in-app payment system policies. While Apple touts the role of the App Store in creating new jobs in the 'app economy' and claims to have paid over $155 billion to developers, the App Store has also attracted criticism from developers and government regulators that it operates a monopoly and that Apple's 30% cut of revenues from the store is excessive. As of 2021, the store features more than 1.8 million apps.

The number of apps peaked at around 2.2 million in 2017, but declined slightly over the next few years as Apple began a process to remove old or 32-bit apps. The App Store was opened on July 10, 2008, with an initial 500 applications available. Apps can be downloaded on the iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, and some can be transferred to the Apple Watch smartwatch or 4th-generation or newer Apple TVs as extensions of iPhone apps. The store allows users to browse and download approved apps developed within Apple's iOS SDK. The App Store is an app marketplace developed and maintained by Apple Inc., for mobile apps on its iOS and iPadOS operating systems.

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