PhaseDev seems keen to give special authority to several non-magazine publishers to have their own digital app. Seputar Indonesia and Mizan have already becoming separated apps from Wayang Force, all built for iPad. Interface-wise, it has what has been offered by Wayang Force since it uses the similar engine. The difference may noticeable from their materials. Both have already available at App Store starting early August.
These apps having different selling method. Mizan is giving relatively bargained price for their books, tagged at $1.99-$2.99, with an exception for a book authored by Komaruddin Hidayat, “Memahami Bahasa Agama” (Understanding Religion’s Language) which is set at $6.99. Seputar Indonesia in contrary, frees all their newspaper edition, including the latest one. Seputar Indonesia’s iPad edition is updated every morning.
The decision made by Seputar Indonesia to increase their readership through digital world is worth appreciated. Until today, I haven’t got any information about other newspaper that freely give their contents to be downloaded. Kompas, as the largest newspaper in the country in term of subscribers, in their digital package is giving access to browser-optimized web application and of course it’s no longer free.
For me, this step will be a highlight for digital users, what is about with Seputar Indonesia’s editorial. It is expected if they could gain a loyal readership from digital realm, the avid readers will consider to subscribe — whether there will be paid-edition package or they aim for the print-out subscribers.
As part of consideration, so far the readership of Kompas’ paid-digital edition is still low — because I am surely convinced that most people are still prefer the print-out version if they are likely to pay. This fact should be a factor of what should be achieved, once a traditional publisher entering digital world.
Meanwhile, this action by PhaseDev to spin-off some of their contents reminds me of similar move by Zinio, the most popular digital magazine app. Zinio is doing the same thing in collaboration with several publishers. It’ll be more exclusive as it’s felt own by the publisher itself.
With Wayang Force’s engine in the background, you can preview several pages of magazines/books/newspaper before you actually decide to buy. Currently Mizan’s book and Seputar Indonesia newspaper are still available at Wayang Force which already listed 680 items in many categories. When the readership of special app has reached to the target, it’s no surprise the publication will be exclusively available at the respective specialized apps.
