The iPhone receives an updated AP news device and a first from the Independent

Posted by Christie Silk on August 4, 2009 at 4:15 PM

The iPhone continues to be the object of news providers' attentions. The Associated Press has recently updated its iPhone device, while the Independent becomes the latest newspaper to launch its own iPhone application.

The Push Notification feature is part of the updated AP Mobile News 3.0 device, which is available for the iPhone and the iTouch. The application transmits breaking news notifications on to the recipient's screen, even if the AP device is not being used. The updated device is available for free on the iTunes App. Store.

AP is investing significant resources into the development of its mobile news provision since the programme was launched over a year ago. The inclusion of a notification feature is a recognition of the increasing public demand for real time information. Other new features available on the device give the recipient more control over the organisation of the news that they receive. Users can save stories directly to the Evernote application, which they can search for and retrieve at any time. Parts of stories can also be "cut and pasted" and shared among friends. A 'Front Page" device, again for Apple products, gives the individual the ability to customize their own AP front news page and control what type of news is presented, from a choice of 50 categories.

Jane Seagrave, AP's senior vice president/global product development, told Editor and Publisher that the AP mobile applications were in great demand. There have been more than 1.2 million downloads, 75 per cent of which were for the iPhone. There is also an AP device for the Blackberry, the demand for which may currently lag behind the iPhone, but is gradually developing. Also in the pipeline are devices for the Palm Pre and Google's Android.

Currently, the focus is on increasing public distribution, yet AP Mobile is making preparations so that it catches the advertising wave when it truly embraces mobile news.

Seagrave emphasises that the AP news service is not " a replacement for what a newspaper will do for its own mobile Web site... Newspapers want and need and should have their own mobile sites."

Many prestigious newspapers also seem to think they do. The British newspaper, the Independent, announced today the launch of its iPhone news application. The free application allows users to read the paper's articles both on and offline. Readers can access 12 categories of articles, which are World and UK news, Sport, Business, Football, Opinion, People, Politics, Technology, Arts and Entertainment and Environment. Once the application has been installed, all of the content is automatically downloaded on the phone. The paper claims that this takes around one minute on a Wi-Fi connection and several on a standard mobile connection. Articles can be read even in the absence of a mobile phone connection.

The application was created by Missing Ink Studios. The Director, Ross Sleight enthused on the Independent's website:

"We're delighted to launch the Independent iPhone App which utilizes our Newsdesk application platform, which enables news and content providers to create highly functional apps with bespoke designs quickly and cost effectively".

It is hoped that this development will attract a wider readership to the title, while it also serves to underline the widening acceptance of the mobile as an important platform for the future of news provision.

Sources: Editor and Publisher
The Independent