AP Launches the "Mobile News Network"

Everyone's darling, the iPhone, received yet another customized web app on Monday, with AP launching its Mobile News Network. Of course, the network is not limited to the iPhone and iPod Touch, but you can bet it will look best on those devices.

AP first announced this initiative at its annual meeting on April 14th. AP said then that six newspaper companies were working to help develop the new service (Advance Publications Inc., Hearst Corp., Lee Enterprises Inc., McClatchy Co., MediaNews Group Inc. and Rust Communications Inc.).

At the time of launch, the service has more than 100 newspapers participating. Local news from participating member newspapers and national and international news from AP will be available, with reports will be organized by ZIP code.

In their press release, AP emphasized that while others, such as Google and Yahoo! offer mobile news services, AP's Mobile News Network would offer easier access to local news stories.

Finally, according to Jeffrey Litvack, global product development director for AP,

Apple offered guidance on how to best tailor the service to the iPhone but has no formal role with the product.

According to AP's press release, the two largest newspaper companies in the country, Gannett Co. and Tribune Co., hadn't yet decided whether to join the program and were still evaluating it.

Source: Tech Ex

Submitted by admin_huliq on Mon, 2008-05-05 18:43.

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