The Guardian launches premium iPhone app

The Guardian is one of the first publishers to charge for a news app, which does not include ads, but its news content remains available free via its mobile internet site.

Almost half the 1m unique users of its mobile internet site, which launched in February, access the site via an iPhone or iPod Touch.

The app, developed internally along with mobile agency 2Ergo, offers access to the Guardian’s entire catalogue of news, as well as sections such as columnists, features, galleries, podcasts and obituaries.

It also features ‘drag & drop’ personalisation and the ability to save topics or journalists as favourites.

Video and comments are unavailable but could be added in future.

Jonathon Moore, product manager for the Guardian, said the aim was to offer a best in class service.

“In some ways it’s enhanced from the web experience,” said Moore. “We’ve tried to push Apple’s user interface forward and produce something the Guardian audience will enjoy.”

This story first appeared on newmediaage.co.uk