GMA News Online now a top content provider for smartphones

MANILA, Philippines - Barely two months since its launch, GMA News Online is now ranked among the country’s top three news content providers for mobile applications for smartphones.

Powered by GMA New Media Inc. (NMI), GMA Network’s digital arm, GMA News Online applications are available for Android smartphones and tablets and for iPhone users as well.

Both apps have so far averaged five-star ratings from users.

With the GMA News Online Android app, news stories and photos are automatically updated when one connects to the Internet. Users can then browse the news offline at their leisure, saving on browsing costs as Internet time is only used for quick content updates. Everything is downloaded straight to the Android phone. The app is available as a free download in the Android Marketplace.

The apps offer other functionalities such as the sharing of news feeds via Facebook. Upgraded versions with video and audio streaming, commenting platform, and user-customization are being developed, said Michaela Agcaoili, NMI vice president for development and operations.

“We have a high regard for the comments of our users and utilize these to further enhance our products. At the same time, we continuously assess trends and user requirements so we can provide them with their needs like no other online news site can,” Agcaoili said.

The mobile applications for Android and iOS devices allow users to get news content at their leisure. They also provide automatic updates of news stories and photos when a connection to the Internet is detected. When offline, users can continue reading previously downloaded content. Everything is downloaded directly to the mobile device.

GMA News Online is the first Philippine news site with its own Android application. Mobile phones using Google’s Android mobile OS are currently the world’s fastest-selling smartphones based on independent research from Gartner Inc.

Howie Severino, GMA News Online editor-in-chief, said: “GMA is establishing itself as a local leader in the mobile Internet with the launches of the two apps. Our new applications are part of our effort to compete in the exploding mobile Internet field. We now have both Android and Apple apps, but we’re far from done. Our philosophy is constant improvement.”