News
A Danish paper is testing E-pages on e-reading devices05/05-2010
More and more people read their newspaper on their computer, but that is not all. Currently, the Danish paper Jydske Vestkysten is running a pilot project where a selected group of readers will test an e-version of their printed newspaper on the small transportable electronic reading device Sony eReaders. Visiolink has developed the system that makes it possible for the readers of Jydske Vestkysten to bring their paper anywhere.
From the end of march 40 of the readers of Jydske Vestkysten no longer had to wait for the paperboy to read today's printed newspaper. They have agreed to participate in a pilot project where they will be testing Sony eReaders as a new communication platform for their newspaper. The first month they will receive both the printed version and an E-page version for their Sony eReaders but after that they will have to settle for their new devices. The objective of the project is to test whether or not there is a market for newspapers on devices.An even more accessible newspaper
As the readers gradually gets more mobile the expectations of having access to news when they are on the run increases.
”We have to consider new ways in which we can distribute our newspaper giving that today's readers, due to their increased use of internet, smartphones and e-reading devices, expect to be able to have access to news any time and anywhere,” tells Peter Gram, who is in charge of electronic and digital media at Jydske Vestkysten.
By offering access to their newspapers through Visiolink's platform for eReaders, Jydske Vestkysten gives its readers the opportunity to bring their newspaper with them when they go on vacation or visit family out of town. At the same time the paper will save considerable costs on printing and distribution.
”The cost savings is an important issue for the newspaper industry which at the moment is struggling with falling circulation. They have to find new ways to face the challenges of the media industry and the new devices might just be the answer,” evaluates Jens Funder Berg, CEO of Visiolink, which has developed the software, enabling the media industry to deliver the printed newspaper on any type of mobile device.
Test cycle on iPhones
In the end of April Jydske Vestkysten initiated another test cycle, this time on iPhones. Currently 100 test subjects are trying our a specially designed Jydske Vestkysten App, giving them access access to an E-page version of the printed paper on their iPhone. This App is currently available in Apple's App Store, which sells programs for iPhone, iPad and iPod.
If you want to know more about Visiolink's Visiointegrate © which enables Jydske Vestkysten to integrate their content on eReaders and iPhones read here.
