Skyhook Wireless, provider of a Wi-Fi location system, took a look at some application stores to see what they’re offering in terms of location-aware apps.
The study found a disparity in app cost between Apple's App Store, Google's Android Marketplace and BlackBerry App World. The average price of a location-aware app in BlackBerry App World is $13.60 compared with $3.60 in the iTunes App Store and 84 cents in the Android Marketplace.
The Apple App Store has the greatest number of location-based applications, at more than 2,300, and the highest percentage of paid-for LBS apps, at over 75 percent, Skyhook says. Sixty-seven percent of BlackBerry apps are paid and 80 percent of Android Marketplace apps are free.
The report found 17 different types of apps that use location. The most popular location-aware apps are travel, navigation and social networking, but new types of apps, like music, finance and games, also are integrating location.