Gartner estimated the app market had hit $4 billion in 2010, and will grow to $27 billion by 2013. With Apple’s app store expected to pull in $2 billion this year alone. Add to that the rumor of a February launch of an iPhone that works on Verizon -– the largest network in the U.S. — greater availability will mean more new users with new phones to fill with new apps.

Not to mention the upcoming iPad 2 that many have been advising consumers to hold out on the original for.

My only question is whether that estimate includes sales from the Mac App store, which will be opening Jan. 6 (probably non-coincidentally the same day as the opening of the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show). Sales from the Mac App store will likely average $15 or $20 rather than $1 or $5 in the mobile version. Either way we have an exciting year ahead of us for devices and the software which can run on said devices.

[BGR via Tech Crunch, Mac App Store]