AP develops paid-subscription iPad app, launches AP Gateway

Business Insider reports that the Associated Press is developing a paid-subscription app for the iPad, that will carry articles from the AP and its member newspapers and broadcasters. To oversee this app, and other future new mobile digital products, the AP is launching a business unit called AP Gateway.

The AP has long been covetous of its content (as the “fair use guidelines” flap of a couple of years ago illustrates), so it is not surprising it is changing from its free iPhone app model to a paid model with the launch of the iPad. However, the fundamental question remains just how many people will be willing to pay for this news when they can get news from Google News, CNN, or any of hundreds of other on-line sources for free.

Still, nobody will know the answer if nobody ever tries.