According to Strategy Analytics’ new application storefront forecast the Android Market is poised to overtake the Apple App Store in quarterly volume by the end of 2012.

The application economy is strong and getting stronger as consumers are downloading billions of paid applications per month, and downloads are expected to contribute about $2bn per quarter by the end of 2012, the report "Apps, Apps Everywhere: The Billion Dollar Industry" revealed.

Though Apple remains king of the app economy through 2012, by driving more paid downloads, higher ASPs, and more total apps than any other platform, Android will beat that sooner with additional assistance from third party distribution outlets such as the Amazon App Store, GetJar, Nook and others.

Strategy Analytics said the battle between Google and Apple is only one subtext in a market that will continue to grow exponentially for the next six quarters.

Applications are a multi-billion dollar industry on their own and are playing an increasingly important role in the phone purchase process, and play a key role in augmenting platform stickiness, after the operating decision has been made.

But as the applications got ultimately more advanced, their unbridled opportunity must face hurdles such as successful transition to new devices, improved means of discovery and driving revenue in emerging markets.