This is primarily due to sales of the iPhone 5, which have been high enough to sustain Apple until the iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S is released.
The research firm expects Google Android to account for 8.1 billion downloads this year, topping Apple iPhone downloads at 6 billion.
FORBES: App Downloads To Grow 144% This Year; Android Leads Apple
Is Apple testing the iPhone 6?
FORBES: Links 2 Jan: Apple's iPhone 6 And iOS7 Already Showing Up
It would be uncharacteristic of Apple to release the iPhone 6 this year.
FORBES: Will Apple Release the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 in 2013?
Apple clocked iPhone sales of 6.9 million units up from a mere 1.1 million during the same time last year.
Apple cannot release the rumored iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S in the winter or spring without cannibalizing sales of the current iPhone 5.
By releasing the iPhone 6 in 2013, Apple would forgo the chance to sell an upgraded model of the iPhone 5.
FORBES: Will Apple Release the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 in 2013?
Apple iPhone sales were down 12.6% from Q1, but up 47.4% from a year earlier.
FORBES: Q2 Mobile Phone Sales Fell 2.3% From Yr Ago, Gartner Says
This is all still speculation, but if Apple chooses to wait until the iPhone 6 to showcase NFC, it will lag behind in the most important development in smartphone technology since the touchscreen.
FORBES: Rumor: The iPhone 5 Will Support Mobile Payments with an NFC Chip
Apology: With the launch of the iPhone 5, Apple also released iOS 6, the operating system for iPhones and iPads.
Apple's 19.6 million iPhone shipments to China and 1.4 million to Brazil last year dwarfed the 460, 000 units sent to India, according to Canalys.
According to a new report by The Next Web, it would seem that Apple may be planning to release the iPhone 6 this year.
FORBES: Will Apple Release the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 in 2013?
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster this morning responded to news of the launch event with a quick research note asserting that Apple could sell 6-10 million iPhone 5 units by the end of the month.
FORBES: Apple: Is Street Too Cautious On FY Q4 iPhone Outlook?
If Apple wants to get on this train then the iPhone 6 will have an OLED display.
FORBES: The American Company That Samsung Relies On For Success
Sharp has already won a contract with Apple to provide power-efficient screens for the iPhone 6 in 2012.
Meanwhile Apple shares slumped 6% amid speculation that its iPhone, which was launched in the US last month, had not been selling as well as had been predicted.
Apple just released its new highly anticipated iPhone operating system iOS 6 to the public.
On Monday, Apple said its coming iOS 6 operating system for the iPhone and iPad, expected out in the fall, will let a player challenge friends to a game while also allowing users to sync the Game Center friends list with Facebook to find friends easier.
More importantly the positive reception of the phone gives us greater confidence that Apple can not only meet our 6-10 million iPhone 5 unit estimate for the rest of September, but also hit our 49 million unit estimate for the December quarter, which assumes 32% year-over-year growth.
FORBES: Apple iPhone 5: 'A Rolex Among A Sea Of Timexes,' Analyst Says
There are 6, 000 location-based apps for the Apple iPhone alone, allowing users to share photos, videos and reviews.
At the moment, she only does her thing on the iPhone 4S. The iPad is next, when Apple releases iOS 6 in the fall.
With the introduction of iOS 6 for both new and existing iPhone models, Apple is replacing the current Google-based navigation system it hosts on the phone with its own new location and navigation software, called Maps.
FORBES: Apple iPhone 5 Forecast To Drive Second Half 2012 Smartphone Shipments To 346.5 Million
Apple's stock surged 6.85% the week following the iPhone hitting the shelves.
WSJ: AHEAD OF THE TAPE: Sell Apple?! iPad3 May Provide the Chance
The Apple iPhone 5 has gotten off to a solid start already with an estimated 6.0 million units shipped globally during Q3 2012.
ENGADGET: Samsung Galaxy S III dethrones iPhone 4S as smartphone sales champ for Q3 2012
The inspiration for the piece of course is the recent introduction of Apple (AAPL) Maps last week in the new iOS 6 and iPhone 5 as a replacement for Google (GOOG) Maps.
FORBES: Why Steve Jobs Thought Joe Nocera Was a 'Slime Bucket Who Gets Most of His Facts Wrong'
Figures 5 and 6 are based on industry tear down analysis by iSuppli of the Apple iPhone 4G.
FORBES: Apple's Foxconn Jobs Just Aren't Coming Back: This is Complete Nonsense
When Apple released the latest update to its mobile operating system, iOS 6, many iPhone users were surprised to find the Google Maps application they used to get around was replaced by a flawed Apple version.
FORBES: The Silver Lining To Google Maps Being Kicked Off The iPhone - Money
After a roller-coaster month with the iPhone 5, iOS 6, and the issues around the new Maps application, Apple need a solid base hit.
The company reported a 17% drop in net profit for the three months ended December, but lifted its full-year revenue outlook by 2.6%, saying it would benefit from growth in demand for Apple's iPhone 4S and other smartphones.
Apple also rolled out an iOS update, 6.1.1, interestingly only to the iPhone 4S (for now).
应用推荐