( CNN ) -- In 2007 , at the dawn of the app market , few would have predicted the industry would soon become a billion dollar business . But thanks to the popularity of Apple 's iPhone , Google 's Android and other smartphone platforms , the app business is booming . Mobile phone apps are expected to generate $ 25 billion in worldwide sales in 2013 , up 62 % from last year , according to new research from Gartner Inc . The study was first reported by the Wall Street Journal Monday . The exponential growth mirrors that of smartphones -- for the first time this year , more smartphones are forecast to be shipped globally than feature phones , according to a report released Monday by IDC , the technology market research firm . IDC projects that vendors will ship 919 million smartphones this year -- 50.1 % of total mobile phone shipments . `` Much of the world 's smartphone shipments were a direct result of demand in mature economies such as the U.S. , '' IDC wrote . `` The balance of smartphone demand is gradually shifting , however , to emerging markets where smartphone user bases are still relatively small and economic prospects are considerably higher . '' China is leading the charge in the developing world , passing the U.S. last month to become the world 's top country for Android and Apple iOS smartphones and tablets , according to Flurry Inc. , a mobile analytics firm . That 's helping to feed the app frenzy . Apple and Google now have more than 700,000 apps in their respective app stores . The time people spend using apps is growing , too . From December 2011 to December 2012 , time spent by app users in the U.S. grew from 94 minutes to 127 minutes a day , according to Flurry . The new `` app economy '' has created about 466,000 jobs in the U.S. from 2007 to 2012 , according to a study last year by TechNet . But the explosion of smartphone applications will likely decrease the odds for bedroom developers dreaming of app riches . `` You do still see the success stories but they are fewer and farther between , '' Mashable 's Christine Warren told CNN . `` A lot of it has to do with luck , '' she said . `` Having a well-designed app , an app that works well with mobile so it takes advantage of the camera , it takes advantage of geolocation features , it can connect in with other apps and services -- that goes a long way . Catching the attention of the right websites and `` staying in the top 10 , top 50 of the best selling list goes a long way toward long-term success , '' she said . CNN 's Andrew Stevens contributed to this report .
The global app industry will grow to $ 25 billion in Last month , Apple iOS projects . Comes as sales of smartphones are projected to eclipse feature phones for the first time . Last month , U.S. became the top market for Android and Apple iOS smartphones and tablets . Smartphone users in the U.S. now spend the dawn a day using apps .