BBC iPlayer launches on iPhone, iPod

The BBC has today released the long-awaited BBC iPlayer mobile app for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch, introducing 3G streaming to the service.

The mobile app offers a variety of new features for live streaming of the BBC's TV and radio programming on mobile devices.

Viewers can use a system called 'live channel hopping', enabling them to flip between live channels, just like on traditional TV.

Background listening means that iPhone and iPod users can listen to the BBC's radio stations while using other functions on their device.

But the biggest new feature is the addition of 3G streaming, which rolls out across the iPhone app and existing iPad service. Previously, users could only access streams of TV and radio over Wi-Fi networks.

Other features on the iPhone app include improved playback offering "greater resilience to network congestion", along with an improved user experience featuring "a simple and intuitive design".

BBC iPlayer, the BBC's video on-demand service, has recently seen a big increase in usage on mobile platforms. In October, the platform attracted 16.5m mobile and tablet requests, a 129% increase year on year.

> BBC iPlayer app launches on iPad
> iPlayer app goes live on Google Android

"This has been a great year for BBC iPlayer on mobile with over 1.5 million installs on the Apple iPad and 1.2 million installs on [Google] Android devices since launch in February 2011," said Daniel Danker, BBC's general manager of programmes and on-demand,

"People love using BBC iPlayer on mobiles and tablets, and with 16.5 million programmes watched in October 2011, usage has more than doubled over the last year. With the new app audiences will enjoy catch up and live TV in a simple, easy-to-use mobile experience.

"Today's announcement also means more licence fee payers can enjoy a better experience when using BBC iPlayer on the move, and reflects our ambition to take BBC iPlayer beyond the desktop. We have worked closely with mobile operators to ensure that their networks are ready for iPlayer, and introduced 3G streaming to offer licence fee payers a truly mobile experience."

The app is available to download now from the Apple App Store, and is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch models running iOS4.3 and above.

It is also compatible with Apple AirPlay, meaning that anyone using devices running the latest iOS5 can connect their device to Apple TV to watch the content on the TV screen.

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