The ABC has launched a Web site optimised for mobile phones. On Monday the national broadcaster also unveiled news applications for the iPhone and Google's open source Android operating system for smartphones. Both applications are free to download and available now.
Available at m.abc.net.au, the new site will bring up-to-date ABC content directly to any mobile phone with Web browsing capabilities. The site has been designed to suit mobile phone screen sizes.
The home page features links to a number of categories including News, Weather, Local News, Triple J Radio, ABC Radio, Sport, TV Guide, Movie Reviews and the ABC Shop.
Initially, the mobile site will be restricted to text and images, but the ABC plans to offer audio and video content later this year. This means that there is currently no live radio streaming; the radio links are merely program guides.
"The ABC is already a leading provider of digital media content in Australia", said Mark Scott, the ABC's managing director. "But we are now delivering even more with this significant move onto the mobile platform. ABC Mobile provides yet another way for Australians to access reliable, quality content wherever and whenever they choose."
The site can be accessed by typing m.abc.net.au into any Web browser. Alternatively, if people send an SMS with 'ABC' to 19 712 111 they will be sent a live link to the site, though this will incur a 55c charge (along with the standard mobile data charges incurred while browsing).
