Apple will dominate the mobile apps world – though Android threat is growing

While Apple’s developers may sometimes face a Byzantine race to get their apps approved, are required to avoid even a gentle whisper of controversy or nudity, and may even sometimes see their artwork pop up in an Apple patent filing, Cupertino’s dominance over the mobile app world seems set to continue, fighting off all foes.

ABI Research published its latest forecast for the mobile apps market which suggests that despite the growing competition posed by Android, and to a lesser extent, BlackBerry and Nokia, Apple will lead the pack — though Android will be hovering in the tail lights…

Specifically, ABI Research expects mobile application downloads from iOS and Android to account for 78% of all application downloads in 2010, with iOS (the iPhone