£2.39 for the Guardian iPhone app
Posted
by
Press Gazette
on 14 December 2009
at 10:54
Tags: Mobile, National Newspapers, New Media, Newspapers, Online
The Guardian has launched its paid-for iPhone application as it bids to join the ranks of those looking to grab a hold of the increasingly lucrative news apps market that’s emerging in the UK and US.
Despite a prolonged clamour about its intentions to resist Rupert Murdoch’s call to arms over paywalls and keep all its web and mobile content freely available, Guardian News & Media is happy to charge £2.39 for iPhone users to access its new application.
The app is the “first example of our emerging mobile application strategy” claimed GNM’s head of mobile products, Jonathan Moore.
Key functions include:
- Offline reading and audio download/playback with fast download speeds.
- Ability to customise the homepage and flag up top contributors for even quicker access to their latest articles
- Full screen picture galleries
- “Trending” function that allows users to discover what’s popular on Guardian.co.uk
But there are a few things missing, claims Paid Content:
Nothing is perfect and here’s what it doesn’t have: video, geo-targeting or links to services on the wider web. The Telegraph’s free iPhone app may not be as slick, fast or intuitive but has original video content, a real-time Twitter interface and geo-specific weather updates using the iPhone’s GPS capability. GNM tells us that it is looking at adding video in future.
Tags: Mobile, National Newspapers, New Media, Newspapers, Online
