The Next Issue has finally arrived on the iPad, and is set to offer a subscription service that could transform the way you access glossy magazines on iOS. In their press release, Morgan Guenther, CEO of Next Issue Media said:
"With the unlimited plans offering access to our entire catalog from a single intuitive App and personal library, we're delivering magazines the way consumers want to read them. It's like having an entire magazine rack stocked with only the very best titles, but you can browse or read any issue, any time, on your iPad."
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Right now Apple's method of offering magazine content is through special App Store apps that live in Newsstand and need to be downloaded and subscribed to or purchased on an individual, magazine-by-magazine basis. Zinio has provided a similar single point of discovery, purchase, and reading for a long time now as well. Next Issue, however, is focusing very much on a Netflix-style model, with subscription plans that cover multiple magazines a month.
The Next Issue for iPad provides access to up to 39 titles including Bon Appetit, Brides, Golf Digest, GQ, Self, Vogue and Wired, with more promised to come in the future.
There are two subscription models available. The first comes in at $9.99 a month; this gives you access to monthly and bi-monthly magazines and back issues. The more expensive $14.99 a month subscription includes weekly magazine titles such as Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker, and a few others. If you are still on the fence, you can sign up for a free 30 day trial.
Unfortunately, it's currently only available in the United States.
The question is, would you be willing to pay a monthly subscription to gain access to regular magazine publications? I would say that if the content available suits your reading habits then it is an excellent proposition. The cost of a printed magazine is nearly the cost of a month's subscription so it does make good economic sense. What do you think?
