Google has narrowed the gap with Apple in the amount spent on apps by users of its Android system this year, even though users of Apple’s iPhone and iPad remain the biggest spenders on digital content.

A new report from Distimo, tracking spending on Apple’s App Store and Google Play, also revealed the dramatic extent to which business models for app developers have shifted from upfront payments to in-app purchasing, in part driven by messaging apps in Asia.

According to IDC, Apple’s smartphone market share stood at 13 per cent in the third quarter, down from 14 per cent a year earlier, while Android’s had increased from 75 per cent to 81 per cent over the same period. By contrast, Distimo found that Apple’s share of app store spending in November remained much higher at 63 per cent in November, compared with 37 per cent for Google Play.