Tim Cook: Apple Watch app store now has 3,500 apps, ‘far ahead’ of expectations

Apple CEO Tim Cook said on an earnings call today that the Apple Watch app store now contains more than 3,500 apps.

At the launch of the app store on April 24, the number of apps available was estimated at 3,000, which suggests that new apps are being approved and added rapidly.

“We’re far ahead from where we expected to be from app point of view,” Cook said.

Cook pointed out that when the first iPhone launched, only 500 apps were available for the device. When the iPad launched, only 1,000 apps were available, he said.

“Our internal goal for the Watch was to beat that 1,000 level, so we’re way ahead of where we thought we’d be,” Cook said.

The eventual appeal and success of the Watch is, in many ways, tied to the quality and usefulness of the apps available. So the breadth of the app offering is important.

Early reviews of the Watch have suggested that many apps are clunky and do not perform well. Indeed, developers are creating apps for a wholly new type of device, and are still learning about how to design for such a tiny screen that’s worn on the wrist.

Cook’s remarks came after Apple announced its second-quarter earnings today. The company reported strong results, helped by continued strong iPhone sales in the U.S. and China.