Since our posting this afternoon, we’ve gotten some great feedback, as well as some insightful questions about the new CNN App. We’d like to take the opportunity to address a few points head-on, all of which are related to how we’re able to make CNN’s mobile products even better.
Full disclosure: We’re charging a one-time fee of $1.99 for the CNN App on the iPhone and iPod touch, and the App also has ads in it. We did this for two reasons: 1. To deliver on a premium experience with unique features and functionality never before available from CNN on a mobile device; and 2. to ensure we were positioned to continue building new, improved mobile products to offer consumers.
It is imperative to us that the ads are incorporated in a way that is respectful to our consumers. It includes modestly-sized banner ads with ability to expand – but only if the user initiates it. Further, you can go back to the content quickly, typically with one click and without closing the app.
From the beginning, our goal was to build a groundbreaking app at a reasonable price point. We understand some of you don’t want to pay for that experience; but we hope you’ll continue to use CNN’s mobile site optimized for the iPhone – which you can access for free. But we also know that many of you already have downloaded the App for $1.99, and really are enjoying it. If you’d like to learn more about all the App has to offer before downloading it, check out www.cnn.com/iphone – it’s a good resource.
I know that’s a lot of info, but we thought we owed it to you to explain all this just a bit more. Regardless, thanks for being such fantastic users – your feedback is critical to making all of our platforms and products better!
