NEW DELHI: The Times of India, India's most-read newspaper and most-visited news site, has made a big-bang entry into the world of apps with the launch of iPad, iPhone, Android and BlackBerry apps. The apps use the latest advances in technology to give users the best browsing and reading experience on their devices.

The iPad app was launched on Monday (March 28) evening, and within hours it became the top free app in the India App Store of iTunes. In the US App Store too, under the free "news apps" category, it was steadily moving up, and was way ahead of other Indian news apps. The iPhone, Android and BlackBerry apps of TOI were launched on Wednesday (March 30). The iPhone app too is already ahead of many leading international news apps in the App Store. The Times of India is the only Indian newspaper to have apps for all these platforms. Apps for more platforms are coming soon.

Announcing the launch of the apps, Mr Rishi Khiani, CEO of Times Internet Ltd, said: "The future belongs to mobile devices, especially smartphones and tablets. Our apps aim to deliver our premium offerings to our readers who belong to the highest strata of society and are quick to adopt these devices."

The apps not only offer the in-depth and analytical coverage that is the hallmark of TOI's print editions, but also bring you news as it happens 24x7. Taking full advantage of the wide variety of content available with the Times Group, the apps offer a rich multimedia experience. They have photo galleries and videos from a range of categories including news, sports and entertainment.

TOI's iPad app marries the look and feel of print to the unique tablet experience. It also brings you Speed News, a first-of-its-kind service in the world, launched by http://timesofindia.com/ a few months ago. This service brings you minute-by-minute news updates from over 500 Times of India reporters in more than 80 cities across the country.

All TOI apps come with social media integration. They let users share articles or photos on Facebook and Twitter, and also via email. They also let users save articles for offline reading. The apps help readers stay connected to their hometowns - wherever they are in India or abroad - by providing local news from 30 Indian cities. This has been made possible by the unrivalled, nationwide network of The Times of India.

For those who do not want to miss the action on the cricket field even if they are not able to watch a match on TV, all the TOI apps come with a live scorecard. Movie buffs can quickly browse the movie review list on a TOI app and read reviews - by critics as well as readers - of movies made in seven languages, including English and Hindi.

Both in content and presentation, The Times of India has always tried to stay ahead of the curve. Its latest offerings are driven by the same philosophy.

Pradeep Gairola, Vice President, +91-971-770-3142, Email: Pradeep.gairola@indiatimes.co.in