This week Distimo published its latest report on Instagram. “The Rise of Instagram and the Significance of the First Billion Dollar App Acquisition” highlights how Facebook’s acquisition marks a significant achievement in the mobile app store landscape.

Launched in October 2010, Instagram’s app grew from less than 10,000 daily downloads upon its release to more than 100,000 over several days in April 2012. The US saw an increase with seven times more downloads than normal up to and including March 2012. The number of shares to Twitter also increased more than 10 fold.

After the acquisition by Facebook and the release of  theirAndroid app, Instagram downloads increased to about eight times higher than in May 2011, and Twitter shares increased to more than 20 times compared to a year ago.

Variation in Regional Downloads

Distimo reported that Instagram has not been equally successful in every country.  The app took just one day to reach the top spot in the iTunes photography section in the US, but it took more than two months to reach top spot in China, and more than six months in South Korea.

Most of the Asian countries preferred other similar apps as they offer sharing to their local networks like Sina, QQ Space and me2day.

In China and South Korea, Instagram didn’t figure in top 300 photography apps, while in Germany it was not that popular, ranking 288 at the launch and later dropped to below 300.

In English speaking countries like Canada, Australia, UK and US, Instagram rose to popularity in the first month and then slipped to lower ranks in December 2010. However, starting in 2011, the app became the most popular app in Apple app store.

The Google Android Effect

The report goes on to note that following the launch of the app in Android market, Instagram reached the number one spot in the US, UK, Australia, Canada and Italy in less than 10 days.

Distimo compared the data between the iPhone launch and the Android debut, saying,

“In all English speaking countries and Italy, Instagram reached the number one social spot within a matter of days. In France, Instagram became more popular on Android than on the iPhone: it directly reached the number nine spot. In Germany however, the hype still did not catch: Instagram reached the 51 spot here.”

The increase in downloads has been supplemented by a strong growth in use.  Even though it is difficult to calculate Facebook’s acquisition price of one billion dollars for a company that has yet to turn a profit, the rise and success of Instagram clearly proves the app store economy and its significance across iOS, Android and beyond.