Google reports that it now has about 700,000 applications available for devices running its Android mobile operating system, the same number of apps available for Apple’s iOS mobile platform.

According to Google, there are more than 500 million Android devices in use worldwide, with an average of 1.3 million additional activations each day. At this rate, Google expects to have 1 billion mobile devices in use by year-end 2013.

Apple once stood alone in the tech industry in terms of product design and functionality, which enabled it to accumulate a cash hoard of over $100 billion.  Some Wall Street analysts are gleefully projecting that Apple’s hoard will top $200 billion by year-end 2013. 

Wait a minute...  With serious challenges from Google and Samsung, bankrolling $200 billion may be a hard target.

Google's Nexus 10 tablet completely sold out in the UK just 24 hours after being released to the public. And the Samsung Galaxy S3 topped sales of the iPhone 4S during Q3 of this year. The Galaxy S3 now holds a 10.7% share of the entire smartphone market, while the iPhone 4S holds 9.7%.  Although iPhone 5 results are not yet available, the device having been introduced late in the quarter, these figures amply demonstrate that Samsung and Google have emerged as serious threats to Apple.

One thing's for sure... For mobile users and the corporate IT teams who support them, all this is good news.  The competition means lower prices, more choice, better performance and continued innovation for years to come.