More choices for mobile NPR fans

NPR is expanding its mobile offerings with two services unveiled today: a redesigned and expanded NPR Mobile Web service for users of Blackberry and other mobile devices not sold by Apple; and an Android app to be released later this month. NPR Mobile Web now has the look and feel of the NPR News app for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch; its enhancements include new search capabilities, higher-quality audio, and access to the live streams of all NPR stations. “The mobile [web] relaunch allows to us to address the BlackBerry platform," says Demian Perry, head of NPR mobile operations, in this interview with paidContent. "The BlackBerry has six different operating systems, which is an added complication in terms of creating an app.” The NPR News app for Android will have "backgrounding" capabilities, allowing users to listen to audio while toggling through other applications. The open source design of the Android system allows NPR and its member stations to share and incorporate each other's programming more easily, Kinsey Wilson, senior v.p. of digital media, tells paidContent.