BBC developing apps for iPhone, Blackberry, Android smartphones
The BBC is about to release news, sport, and iPlayer apps for the likes of iPhone, Blackberry and Android, which will be free to those in the U.K. and supported by advertising internationally. Which isn’t going down too well with the news organizations trying to sell their apps on these devices.
The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is rightly regarded as one of the best news and entertainment companies in the world. It’s publicly-funded with a license fee paid for by U.K. residents and maintains the factual and impartial coverage it has become famed for in its 80 years of existence.
One of the best things about the BBC is its embracing of new technology. It was an early proponent of the Internet and has since introduced blogs, online video, and other services which other broadcasting networks aspire to. And it’s now turning its attention to smartphones, with a new set of official apps for the main operating systems.
The apps were announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The news app, offering content from the main Web site as well as blogs and mixed media, is due in April. The sports app will then follow in time for the World Cup in June, and soccer will naturally be the main focus. Matches will be available to watch live through the app.
The BBC is also considering releasing iPlayer apps for the main platforms later in the year, although the service is already available through a number of different devices including the PS3 and Wii game consoles.
The BBC is moving into apps as smartphones become more and more popular. The BBC is committed to serving content to license fee payers in the U.K. in as many different ways as possible, and this is the next obvious step.
However, the Corporation faces opposition from the likes of The Guardian, which are trying to charge for their news apps. And mobile phone companies are also unlikely to embrace the idea, especially of the iPlayer app, as they will likely place more demand on already-struggling networks.
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February 19th, 2010
I’ve already got an Iplayer App on my I8910 :/
Shame thou, sounds like there’s a lack of support for symbian with these new apps they’re bringing out.