PressReader app to be preloaded on PlayBook

Instant access to more than 2,000 news publications from 95 countries.

The deal is something of a coup for NewspaperDirect, although this has to be set against the disappointing sales of the BlackBerry tablet to date (20,000 to September, reportedly).

The PressReader app provides access to papers from all over the world including the Chicago Tribune, Daily Mail, Le Monde, The Australian, The Washington Post and many more. It charges $0.99 for one edition or the option to subscribe.

These newspapers are presented as hi-res digital replicas of printed editions. Users can swipe from page to page to get a quick overview of the news, and any article can also be magnified or displayed in an easy to read text view.

For newspapers, the app offers the chance to get digital editions to consumers with without having to create the apps themselves. 

“The PressReader app helps satisfy our users’ demand for convenient access to premium news content,” said Martyn Mallick, vice president, global alliances and business development, Research In Motion.