Fairfax Media has released a range of Apple iPhones apps for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age using a subscription based model.
The publisher is charging readers $2.49 a month to download the apps from Apple's iTunes store for smh.com.au, theage.com. au, WAtoday.com.au, and brisbanetimes.com.au.
The company is claiming that the move marks the first time that a publisher has introduced a subscription model for iPhone apps.
The conventional approach up until now has been to charge a one-off fee. Readers who subscribe over a six-month period to Fairfax's apps will pay $12.99
The amount of content available to view on the apps will be of equal volume to that currently found on Fairfax's news websites. However, the apps will offer more than the limited content made available on the company's mobile-enabled sites.
Fairfax Media chief executive and managing director, Brian McCarthy, said: “It's the first move by Fairfax Media to charge for its online news content on a mobile phone. The development of the apps is a milestone in our ongoing strategy around the delivery of content through digital platforms.”
In July, Fairfax come under fire for launching an electronic add-on to the Sydney Morning Herald in PDF format.
Fairfax is due to reveal a new strategic plan in October following a review by management consultants, Bain & Co. The plan will be revealed at an investor meeting.
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