News24 launches iPad app

News24, one of the largest online publishers in Africa, has continued their strong push into mobile computing by launching an iPad application to complement their existing iPhone, Android, J2me apps and mobile wap site.

The iPad application is probably a first for any online publisher on the African continent, and certainly the first in South Africa.

Editor of News24, Jannie Momberg says the move was part of a drive to make the online publication’s content available on all platforms.

“Apart from our website and interactive DSTV channel, News24 already has a number of applications for the various mobile platforms. These include apps for the iPhone, Blackberry, Android and Java phones,” he says.

The News24 app’s design takes advantage of the large tablet screen, and appears to be a hybrid of their existing iPhone app and the news publisher’s website.

“On the usability side we’ve concentrated on developing an app that tries to take advantage of the iPad attributes. Other functionality elements like share options and comments will be included in the near future,” says Momberg.

News24 is part of Naspers, a US$15-billion company that owns several emerging market internet properties around the world, including TenCent in China — one of the largest IM services in the world.

Screenshots below: