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NewsBreak 082 152 goes Android

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:27

The South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC) phone news service, NewsBreak 082 152, is now available as an application (app) for Android handheld devices.

It is designed for devices using Android 2.1 and up. Similar apps for Blackberry and Symbian phones and tablets are currently in development and announcements on the launch dates will be made soon.

An SABC News app for iPhones and iPads is already available in Apple's iOS App Store.

The new downloadable Android application offers in-text and multimedia format and all the information strands currently available on NewsBreak.

It includes news headlines, in-depth reports and analysis – a selection of the latest news, current affairs, sport and business updates from the SABC's radio, TV and online news services.

Also included are weather reports, traffic reports and access to the NewsBreak matric results service.

A new feature is instant access to daily broadcast programme schedules for all the SABC's radio and TV services.
Depending on the type of Android devices – such as Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson LG and Motorola feature phones, smartphones and tablets – and the data connection, users will be able to get stories with text, pictures and video when available; or text only if they have slow connections or low spec phones.

For users who still want to listen to the news and other updates, a tap/click on the NewsBreak logo triggers an automatic dial-in to the familiar NewsBreak 082 152 audio news service.

The experimental version of the SABC NewsBreak app is currently available as a free download. Payment is only required for special services on the app, the first of which is to get matric results at a rate similar to the NewsBreak sms matric results service.

A personalisation feature built into the NewsBreak app offers matriculants yet another way to get their results, on the app. This is a third possible way to get individual matric results, in addition to the NewsBreak 082 152 voice and sms services.

The SABC NewsBreak app can be installed on Android devices by sending an sms with the word "Newsbreak" to 33583 (at a cost of R1.50) to receive a link to download the app – or click here to download it now on an Android mobile device. The SABC NewsBreak app will also soon be available on the Android Market.

The development of SABC NewsBreak apps for a number of operating systems is a joint venture between SABC Digital News, Marketel and all the traditional NewsBreak content providers, with the technical development undertaken by Marketel/Bhyve Technologies via its unique Rapid Application Systems Generator.



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