In a blog post Daniel Danker, the BBC’s General Manager of Future Media & Technology said the corporation was “just applying the finishing touches to the apps as we speak” and that he expected the apps to be available “by the end of the week.”
The BBC already offers a web-based version of the iPlater for Apple’s iPad and iPhone but Danker said the new “native” app offered “a significant improvement on the existing experience.”
Users of Android devices running version 2.2 of the operating system and who have Flash installed will be able able to access the iPlayer for the first time. The BBC has previously faced criticism for having an unofficial iPlayer app pulled from the Android app store.
The BBC says it will make an official announcement when the apps ‘go live’ but has revealed the apps will offer the following features:
Watch live TV and listen to radio (not previously widely available on mobile devices)
Access the BBC’s full catalogue of catch-up programmes; seven-days’ TV and radio on demand as well as series stacking (as you get on the web)
A simple and intuitive design with high picture quality and personalised favourites (making the most of the touch-screen UI, and a popular feature on the website)