Johnston Press is expanding its portfolio of tablet apps in the run-up to Christmas, adding a further 10 titles on iPad and launching 18 titles on Android.

The apps - which are available from three different app stores (Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore) - all feature the latest digital content from each title, as well as full versions of the newspaper and print supplements.

Eight titles already have iPad apps available, with The Scotsman's app approaching 30,000 downloads since its launch at the end of January. Updates to these are being released alongside 10 completely new iPad apps for titles including the Sheffield Star and the Sunderland Echo.

Developed by Pagesuite Ltd, all 18 titles will also launch Android versions which will work on devices including the new Amazon Kindle Fire, the Google Nexus 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Alex Gubbay, Director Digital Platforms, said: "The range of more affordable tablet devices now available is expanding rapidly. Our new iPad and Android apps allow us to tap into this growing trend and learn how best to offer users the best from their local title in a more dynamic, convenient way.

"Tablets are expected to be popular presents this Christmas, so it is an ideal time for us to launch these new apps in 18 markets around the country."

The apps are all free to use for the first 30 days. A monthly subscription charge then applies for most of the apps, ranging from £1.49 for the Hartlepool Mail and Shields Gazette to £7.99 for The Scotsman and Yorkshire Post, to trial different price points. To that end, apps for the Sheffield Star and Boston Standard will be free initially.

Newspaper subcribers in each of the locations can also get free access to one of their local apps as part of a bundled subscription package.

The titles launching tablet apps are as follows:

Launching iPad app updates and new Android versions for Amazon Appstore and Google Play:

1.              The Scotsman

2.              The Yorkshire Post

3.              The News, Portsmouth

4.              The Peterborough Telegraph

5.              The Halifax Courier

6.              The Scarborough News

7.              The Northants Telegraph

8.              The Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Launching iPad and Android versions for Amazon Appstore and Google Play:

1.              The News Letter, Belfast

2.              The Sheffield Star

3.              The Yorkshire Evening Post

4.              The Wigan Evening Post

5.              The Lancashire Evening Post (LEP)

6.              The Blackpool Gazette

7.              The Sunderland Echo

8.              The Shields Gazette

9.              The Hartlepool Mail

10.           The Boston Standard 

* Meanwhile, updates have also been released for the Johnston Press football iOS and Android phone apps live for 11 titles across the Group, ensuring the apps are fully compatible with Apple iOS6 and Android Jelly Bean operating systems.

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