BBC News: Guardian newspaper charges for iPhone app

14 December 2009

The UK's Guardian newspaper has launched a paid-for news app, charging users a one-off fee of £2.39. The application, which allows readers to access content via an iPhone, comes as newspapers around the globe grapple with how they offer digital content. Despite charging for the app, the Guardian's website and mobile platform will remain free.

The app, by UK developer 2ergo, will offer news, comment, features, audio and photos but currently no video.

Writing in his blog about the application, The Guardian's mobile product manager Jonathon Moore answered criticism of the decision to charge for it.

"At an early stage we decided to set the bar high, which hopefully means the app has been planned, designed, tested and developed to offer a truly engaging experience," he said. "The investment involved in this requires us to ask a small fee in return," he said.

Read the article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8411872.stm

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