An analysis of the smartphone dictionary app market

Abstract

In this paper, an analysis of the smartphone dictionary app market is presented. The three types of business models used between dictionary publishers and software developers are listed as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Next, the Apple App Store and Google Play, the main online stores selling dictionary apps, are described in terms of their market share and revenue. Although the Apple App Store is currently in the lead, Google Play is catching up very quickly, particularly in Japan and South Korea. An estimate of the dictionary market as a percentage of all apps is given next. In both the Apple App Store and Google Play, dictionaries account for 0.22–1.21 % of the app store income, depending on the country. Dictionary apps, however, do not appear in the top 200 grossing apps of any app store and hence are not great money earners in the league of games and productivity apps. The number of free and paid dictionary apps in Google Play and the Apple App Store is next calculated and conclusions about the differences in quality and price of dictionaries in the two stores are explained. By studying the features of top grossing apps, an attempt is made to identify the characteristics of top selling dictionary apps. Other business models of dictionary apps, such as freemiums and in-app purchases, are explored and finally the future of the dictionary app market in light of competing products is described.