BBC Mobile apps to go live and Kip Meek to become chairman of Project Canvas

Plans by the BBC to produce native applications for smartphones have been given the go ahead by the BBC Trust, which means the launch of new apps will proceed as planned and outlined last February, according to a post today by Erik Huggers on his BBC blog.

Huggers, who is Director of BBC Future Media & Technology, writes: We know that increasing numbers of you want to access BBC output on-the-go and the rapid growth of internet-connected mobiles and smart phones in the market means we can cost-effectively provide our content and services on these devices."

"This is a really important way for us to deliver online services in the future. Today we begin with our News App becoming available for the Apple iPhone, and soon it will come to BlackBerry and Android phones in addition to other devices later in the year."

"The first class journalism that you expect from the BBC is now available to you in a way that is simple, personalised and optimised for mobile devices. My colleague David Madden has written a blog post and created a video tutorial which will take you through the features of the News app. Please let us know what you think of it."

Meanwhile, Project Canvas, an on-demand TV collaboration between the BCC, ITV, BT, Channel 4, Talk Talk and Arqiva, has appointed Kip Meek as Non-Executive Chairman. Meek has a long career in the British media and telecoms business arriving from Ingenious Media and has also worked for Ofcom. He will have day-to-day operational responsibility for the new organisation.

Meek said: “Internet technology creates unlimited choice and can also give people real control over what they watch, and when they watch it."

“Project Canvas will integrate the broadcast and on-demand worlds to make this possible via the TV. It will also allow third-party business models to thrive through an open platform, bringing the benefits of next-generation TV to anyone who wants it."

“With the backing of these six substantial partners, we have the opportunity to transform television. I look forward to working with the board and the executive team to make this happen.”