Apple Inc. proudly marked 25 billion apps downloaded from its app store with an announcement on Apple's home page.

"A billion thanks. 25 times over," reads an announcement on the site. "The App Store has reached 25 billion downloads. Thanks for getting us there."

Apple is still set to announce the lucky app downloader who will win the $10,000 App Store gift card but interested parties should visit the official "25 billion app countdown" site to check for further announcements. Apple will also likely announce which app was the 25th billion app to be downloaded as the company did for the 10th billion app download, Paper Glider.

Apple is clearly a dominant force in the tech industry. The company is raking in huge profits with iPad and iPhone sales and it's the world's most valuable company. The mind-boggling number of apps downloaded only shows how big the market for smartphones is and the number of users who are willing to pay money for apps. According to Pew Internet nearly half of American adults own a smartphone. Data from Gartner indicates that Apple was third in overall worldwide phone sales in 2011, doubling its market share from 2.9 percent in 2010 to 5.0 percent in 2011. In the smartphone market Apple had a total smartphone market share of 19 percent to take the number one spot.

Apple's loyal customer base is also the reason for the increase in iOS app downloads. A report by Telenav last year indicated that iPhone users were likely to spend more than $40 on apps for their smartphones than Android users. A separate report released by Asymco in 2011 reveals that iPhone users download at least 60 apps per person. In comparison close rival Google Inc. passed the 10 billion app download mark in December.

Apple has been holding the 25 Billion Apps Countdown Promotion since February 13. Currently the best selling free apps in the App Store are Draw Something Free, The Simpsons: Tapped Out and Camera Awesome.