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.
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