The company's e-mart for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch applications is nearing the 10 billion download mark, according to a that Apple has posted on its site.

"As of today, nearly 10 billion apps have been downloaded from the App Store worldwide," Apple said on the site hosting the flickering counter. "So we want to say thanks."

Apple has touted App Store download numbers numerous times since the marketplace went live in alongside the debut of the iPhone 3G. Currently, the App Store offers software for the iPhone and iPod Touch, as well as Apple's iPad tablet.

Shortly after the store opened its doors, issued a statement boasting that customers had downloaded more than 10 million applications in the first weekend.

The App Store passed the one billionth milestone in April 2009, just nine months after its launch. A similar contest at the time awarded a 13-year-old Connecticut boy a $10,000 iTunes gift card, as well as an iPod Touch, a Time Capsule backup device and a MacBook Pro notebook.