Verizon Wireless today announced that its BREW-based download service Get It Now is fast approaching the 200 million download benchmark for games, ringtones, wallpapers and other applications.

Launched in September 2002, Get It Now has seen a marked increase in activities in the last few months. Downloads almost doubled in the last 12 months, increasing from 61.5 million to 120 million. In the first five months of 2005, Verizon Wireless has seen 56 million downloads, coinciding with its launch of the V Cast consumer service--powered by its new EV-DO network. Verizon expects to hit 200 million downloads by the end of June, 25% of which will be game downloads, one of the highest revenue categories.

Verizon also said 26 million customers--of its 45.5 million subscriber base--now have BREW phones, though Verizon did not reveal any details about how many of those customers use the application service itself. Nor did Verizon break out any specific numbers for its V Cast service.