Straits Times to extend its 1.43m readership with new iPad app

The iPad and iPhone apps will be available for free for five weeks until September 7, so be quick.

According to a release, the Straits Times, the flagship newspaper of the Singapore Press Holdings group, will launch its new application for the iPad and an enhanced application for the iPhone.

The apps can be downloaded from the Apple App Store from 7.00am on August 1. The app name is “The Straits Times”.

From 8 September, a new pricing package will be launched for the Straits Times print and digital platforms (online, iPad and iPhone). Details of the new pricing package will be announced towards the end of the free trial.

The new ST apps will extend the reach of the ST print edition, which currently has a readership of 1.43 million, as well as the ST online edition. The apps will also enhance the experience of readers and enable them to access ST on multiple platforms throughout the day.

Mr Han Fook Kwang, Editor of the Straits Times, said: “We want more people to be able to access the rich content in The Straits Times on their iPhone and iPad. We promise to deliver it with the same commitment to quality and credibility that has made our paper the most widely-read in Singapore.”

On the new pricing package to be announced soon, Mr Patrick Daniel, Editor-in-Chief, English and Malay Newspapers Division, said: “The pricing package will be a major step forward for the group, and will position us for the future. For now, we want as many readers to try our new apps for free.”

The new apps will allow ST to extend its presence across all digital platforms, and establish greater relevance, with both readers and advertisers. The apps provide interactive access on the go to ST’s comprehensive news coverage, its latest news updates, commentaries and analyses as well as video content from ST Razor TV. These features have been specially designed and optimised for the iPad and iPhone. Users can also access the 7-day archive of past editions of ST. A PDF version of ST will also be available on the iPad app.

The iPhone app of The Straits Times was first launched in January 2009 comprising only its Breaking News service. It has been well received with a total of 350,000 downloads to date. The new iPhone app will now provide the contents of the ST print edition. In addition, there will be some new features such as “push notifications” where users can set keywords and receive alerts on breaking news stories that match these keywords.

Users with the earlier ST iPhone app should download the latest version of the iPhone app from the App Store.