In a new report Strategy Analytics (www.strategyanalytics.com) says the iPad will continue to dominate the tablet market for the next five years, owning 56% in 2017, thanks in part to the introduction of the iPad mini.

What's more, the research group predicts that between 2008 and 2017 paid app downloads will generate more than US$57 billion globally. However, paid apps begin to decline as free apps come to represent more than 91% of all downloads by 2017, notes Strategy Analytics.

As the percentage of free app downloads continues to grow, the average selling price of all downloaded apps (free and paid) will drop to just eight cents for smartphone apps by 2017. The decline in revenue and increase in app store maintenance costs -- including app approval personnel, marketing, and other maintenance costs -- may force app stores to consider new revenue streams or higher revenue splits, says Strategy Analytics.