Though GNM has often said it has no plans to charge for its online news service at Guardian.co.uk, the company has been looking at new ways to generate revenue and the app has launched with a £2.39 price tag.
While it is currently a one-off charge, GNM has not ruled out charging users more in the future for what it has described as "extra functionality'.
Rival newspaper organisation Telegraph Media Group launched its app earlier this year free of charge, though it does have a strong sponsor presence.
Available exclusively through the iTunes app store, the Guardian app, developed by mobile technology and marketing specialist 2ergo, offers features including offline browsing and a "topic-based news engine".
The app does not currently offer video, though it is expected to be added at some point in the future, but galleries and audio are available. Just last week, GNM said it currently had no ad model for podcasts.
Guardian News & Media is currently restructuring as it attempts to address losses running at an estimated £100,000 a day, with job losses inevitable. The company publishes The Guardian and The Observer newspapers.
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
