A few questions about iMaverick "app"

The chaps from the popular online publication The Daily Maverick earlier today announced that they would be launching an iPad "app"/deal in the next 2 months, called iMaverick. The new publication is essentially a newspaper on your iPad, with latest news and content. I think this is a fantastic idea, but have a few questions & concerns. 

Given that the iPad2 has (far) exceeded expectations in South Africa at it's launch, with units sold out everywhere, and very uncommon for South Africa, lines forming outside stores at launch, it makes sense to go with this platform. BUT, cutting out a huge chunk of the mobile market. Yes, the iPad is designed to be a newspaper/magazine tablet, but I can't help thinking about the route they have chosen. 

Firstly the deal for iMaverick is can chose to pay a R395 a month option which will allow you access to the publication & a brand spanking new iPad2 16GB WiFi, which you can usually pick up for R4399. There is also an option for a 32GB 3G iPad2 at R499 a month, which usually retails at R6599. These packages are over a 24 month contract period

So, what this means in figures:

Option 1 (16 GB WiFi) - 
  • R395 pm * 24 months = R9480 total cost
  • Minus the cost of the iPad of R4399 = R5081
  • Subscription to iMaverick 
  • Assuming publication is Mon - Fri @ avg 22 days in a month = R5081 / 24 months / 22 Days = R9.62 an edition
  • Assuming publication in Mon - Sat & weekend edition @ 26 days in a month = R5081 / 24 months / 26 days = R8.14 an edition
  • This works out to R211 a month 
    • Option 2 (32 GB WiFi) 
    • R499 pm * 24 months = R11976
    • Minus the cost of the iPad of R6599 = R5377
    • Subscription to iMaverick
    • Assuming publication is Mon - Fri @ avg 22 days in a month = R5377 / 24 months / 22 Days = R9.62 an edition
    • Assuming publication in Mon - Sat & weekend edition @ 26 days in a month = R5377 / 24 months / 26 days = R8.61an edition
  • This works out to R224 a month
    • All in all, honestly, not bad at all. You looking at pretty much the same price as a newspaper on the street, but you don't need to get out of bed for it ;) 

    I do have a question though, which at this stage seems to be unanswered. Is the iMaverick "app" going to be a native iPad app or is it going to be a web (HTML5) app. My reason for asking this is because when reading the FAQ's this morning, they stated that "...iMaverick will be available to read on Apple, Android & Blackberry operating systems", which would make it an web (HTML5) app ? 

    Photo

    But then why "sell" it with an iPad ? To me this sounds like "climbing on the bandwagon" given the success of the iPad2 in South Africa thus far. Granted (as I mentioned earlier) it is the perfect device for this, but why not rather launch it as the iMaverick newspaper, and then have a "buy-an-iPad-option". Just boggles my mind ? 

    That said, I see that have changed the wording of that FAQ, stating that different applications will be released in the future for the other platforms. So, who knows :P

    Anyways, good luck to the Daily Maverick team. It is in innovative, and I hope South Africans pick up on the concept. 

    Looking forward to being able to read it on my iPad1 one day ;)