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4 Million iPhones Jailbroken; 38% Use Pirated Apps

Submitted by Edward Kirk on October 14, 2009 - 5:05pm.
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Not long after the launch of the App Store, Pinch Media's analytics software picked up huge pikes in user numbers for apps on their network that didn't match up to iTunes download numbers. This was soon discovered to be due to piracy. Now it is estimated that of the approximately 4 million jailbroken iPhones they can detect, Roughly 38% of them have used a pirated application at least once.

That's not even considering that these numbers only apply for pirated apps containing Pinch Media's analytics software, or that many users with pirated apps go out of their way to avoid being detected.

(We find it equally interesting that based on this data, most users with jailbroken iPhones are not app thieves, as far as Pinch Media can detect.)

There are a few other interesting facts they have been able to derive. For example, the ratio of piracy to total installs of the app is at just 5% in the US, but approaching 40% in China. It also shows a strong negative correlation with GDP in that region.

Those who pirate apps also don't use them for as long and seem to be less interested in them. Intensity of usage is also lower.

Possibly the most interesting is that pirated apps crash more than purchased ones.

Piracy in the Appstore

View more presentations from Pinch Media.

[via Pinch Media]

YEAH

Submitted by eltripone123 on October 14, 2009 - 7:39pm.
Hells yeah Ive been using pirated copies ever since they came out for the 1.1.3 ..Apple makes plenty of money already...phuk them..I found 3 good sites and app to get the files

Submitted by Shutterrelease on October 14, 2009 - 8:40pm.
Buy the apps, support the developers.

Submitted by deise boy on October 15, 2009 - 9:33am.
Completely awesome. Long live Installous. Pay for apps.
Yeah right.

Submitted by Stephen007 on October 15, 2009 - 9:35am.
Quote:
Those who pirate apps also don't use them for as long and seem to be less interested in them. Intensity of usage is also lower.
I would agree with this. When I pirated apps it was really just to try them and see if they were any good. On average, I would launch the app, see if it was any good and then (typically) just delete it. I personally used it more as an (illegal) try-before-you-buy option.

Ironically, the only reason I tried pirating apps was because Michael Johnston said in the podcast that it's the only reason most people jailbreak. Well, that offended me since I'd never pirated apps before. So... I tried it ;-)

Submitted by iPhone4idiots on October 15, 2009 - 11:33am.
Of course they use them less. If you don't have to pay for an app you are more likely to download it to try. Espeically as easy as Installous makes it. Also, if you pay for an app and don't like it at first you are more likely to give it a second or third try.

What surprises me is 38%. I would think it would be north of 50%.