DW app hits million-download mark

The English-language app received more than one million visits, the Arabic-language app tallied 450,000 visitors, the German app reached 300,000 visits and a further 150,000 users accessed the Spanish-language app. The interactive app is available for free download (dw.com/app/ios or dw.com/app/android).

DW Director General Peter Limbourg expressed confidence that the million-download milestone is only the beginning. "Mobile use is an enormous opportunity for us. I am convinced that the strong increase across the world in mobile usage - not everywhere under the same circumstances - accompanies the growing interest in trustworthy reporting and reliable information." DW will continue to integrate its users more fully into the dialogue. Limbourg referred to the content DW produces for "Local Heroes", which brings attention to "independent and critical minds around the globe. Our app puts a tool in these people's hands, which in turn they can use to broaden our perspective." Interest in the app's upload-function for photos and videos has clearly risen, said Limbourg: "Many users are adding new facets to our topics through self-generated content."

The app's ranking, especially in the "news" category of the Google Play charts, reveals the growing popularity. The DW app currently holds a top spot in Tanzania, Yemen and Iraq. The app also ranks among the top ten in important target markets for DW, including Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

The offline-mode allows users to access the app without an Internet connection, and the text-mode processes the information optimally for low-bandwidth. Among the app's newest features is an electronic program-guide (EPG) as well as the possibility to invite users via push notifications to upload user-generated content . Created for optimal use both on smartphones and tablets, the DW app provides access to Live TV, audio programs, news articles and the DW Media Center. Breaking news reaches users through push notifications.