Mobile Phone News and Reviews

The BBC today announced that it is to offer a new range of applications that will deliver BBC Online services to a range of mobile devices. At a keynote speech at Mobile World Congress, BBC Director of Future Media & Technology Erik Huggers said that the BBC is planning to release

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The BBC today announced that it is to offer a new range of applications that will deliver BBC Online services to a range of mobile devices. At a keynote speech at Mobile World Congress, BBC Director of Future Media & Technology Erik Huggers said that the BBC is planning to release mobile applications for BBC News and BBC Sport on a wide range of smartphones, starting with a BBC News application for iPhone in April 2010. The app will focus on providing quick access to the BBC’s existing journalistic content, which will be repurposed for the devices. All applications will be available free of charge.





Erik Huggers said: “It’s been 12 years since the launch of BBC Online, but as media converges and technology accelerates, licence fee payers are increasingly using sophisticated handheld devices to access information. They tell us that they want to access the digital services that they have paid for at a time and place that suits them.

The first app to launch will be BBC News, it will provide the same distinctive content already available on the website, such as features and analysis, reports from BBC correspondents around the world and a wide range of live and on-demand audio and video content.

The news application, which will be available in early April, will give users flexibility in how they personalise their news experience. More features will be added throughout the year. The news app will initially be available on iPhone and iPod Touch devices and follow by Blackberry / Android smartphone later in the year.

BBC News Application

Expected release date: April 2010 (UK and Rest of World).

Both the UK and global applications will be available free of charge (though network data charges may apply). In line with other international BBC Worldwide services, the global version created and released by BBC Worldwide (availability dependent on market aspirations) will be supported by advertising.

Key features:

* Breaking news, updated throughout the day
* Personalisation, the ability to create a personal news experience
* User-generated content, the ability to send comments and pictures direct to the newsroom
* Blogs, analysis and commentary with the distinct BBC voice
* Video and audio content from the BBC News channel and other BBC sources

BBC Sport Application

Expected release date: May 2010 (UK and Rest of World).

The first version will focus on World Cup 2010, but will be updated throughout the year to support major sports, such as the Formula 1 season and the 2010/2011 English football season. Both the UK and global applications will be available free of charge, though data charges may apply. The global version will be released separately by BBC Worldwide and, in line with other international BBC Worldwide services, will feature advertising.

Key features:

* Live text commentary with distinct BBC voice
* Listen live to Radio 5 Live commentary
* Receive up-to-the-minute scores and league information
* Participation: integration with 606, and the BBC sport blogs
* User-generated content, submission of comments via SMS
* Video and audio content: integration with Radio 5 Live, plus video clips (subject to rights availability)
* Personalisation: selection of your teams and clubs

BBC iPlayer Application

BBC iPlayer has been a huge success in the UK since its launch in December 2007 and is now averaging more than 20 million requests for TV and radio programmes per week across all platforms. The web-based BBC iPlayer has already been optimised for a wide range of smartphones (accessed through a mobile browser). A BBC iPlayer mobile application has also been available in Nokia’s Ovi app store since Q3 2009.

Key features:

* Live TV and radio
* Improved user experience: enhanced interface using the latest app gestures and transitions
* New personalisation features

[via Android Community]

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