Apple has announced that its iOS device users have downloaded more than 40 billion apps, with nearly half of these coming in 2012 alone. The Cupertino-based tech outfit stated that the downloads are unique and exclude re-downloads as well as app updates, also mentioning that its App Store now boast north of 500 million active accounts.

The firm experienced a record-breaking December with more than two billion downloads occurring during this month alone. Apple’s developer community has created well over 775 000 apps for iPhone (review), iPad (third generation review) and iPod touch users globally, and these developers have been paid more than seven billion dollars by Apple.

Google’s Play is also home to 700 000+ apps, but unlike the App Store wherein the total number of native iPad apps exceed 300 000, the Play store has far less tablet-tailored applications.

“It has been an incredible year for the iOS developer community,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior VP of Internet Software and Services. “Developers have made over seven billion dollars on the App Store, and we continue to invest in providing them with the best ecosystem so they can create the most innovative apps in the world.”

In related tech milestone related news, Microsoft recently revealed that it has surpassed the 60 million mark in Windows 8 licences sold.