BBC iPlayer app launching Thursday for iPad and Android

by Steven Mostyn - Feb 9 2011, 09:40

Mobile media addicts eager to increase their consumption will likely to thrilled to learn the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is finally bringing its acclaimed iPlayer application to Apple and Android devices.

Although iPlayer access is already available on Apple and Android handsets through their browsing platforms, the introduction of a specially optimised application should improve the service in terms of both delivery and interfacing.

Set for release on Apple iPad and Android systems (v2.2) from Thursday of this week, the app requires a Wi-Fi connection in order to access both content browsing and playback.

“Apps are a big part of our plans to make BBC Online more easily accessible on mobile devices,” trumpeted Daniel Danker, general manager of Future Media and Technology, in an official blog post.

“These apps are coming at a time when we’re really beginning to see massive growth of people using BBC iPlayer on mobile devices,” he added. “Over Christmas, growth in mobile use of BBC iPlayer outpaced PC growth by more than 2-to-1, and BBC iPlayer growth on tablets outpaced PCs by more than 20-to-1.”

Although certainly a tantalising prospect for those looking to catch up on popular TV shows such as Doctor Who, Top Gear and EastEnders, the app is only open to UK users and 3G connections are limited to browsing-only.

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