Here’s some unexpected good news for UK-based Windows Phone users on a Tuesday morning; the BBC will be bringing its official iPlayer service to both Windows Phone 7 and 8 within the coming months.
Since launching way back in 2010, Windows Phone has been missing BBC iPlayer, and it’s become one of the most sought-after apps in recent years. Thankfully the Windows Phone faithful will finally get iPlayer, although an official date hasn’t yet been given.
The BBC’s Head of Business Development, Cyrus Saihan, revealed the news through their BBC Internet Blog today;
“Today I can let you know that we have signed a deal with Microsoft that will enable us to bring BBC iPlayer to the Windows phone platform.”
Windows Phone users will be able to download from the Marketplace, adding a shortcut to the iPlayer website that can be configured as a Live Tile on the home screen of a Windows Phone. The tile will update itself to show new shows and content in true Windows Phone style.
Rather than having to download two separate apps – BBC iPlayer and BBC Media Player – as you do on Android, the Windows Phone version will be a combination of the two. One tap of the Tile will take the user to the iPlayer site, where they can catch up on missed content.
Windows Phone is still missing some crucial apps that other platforms enjoy, but the addition of iPlayer is a huge one and one that should give the system a big boost.