CNN announced its CNN App for iPad is now available on the App Store. The CNN App is designed to provide users with an immersive and visual news experience that takes full advantage of iPad’s expansive real estate and Multi Touch interface. Simultaneous to this launch, the CNN App for iPhone and iPod touch in the U.S. will be available for free, and a major update to the International version will add live breaking news video.

“High quality, world-class journalism is what CNN does best, whether live breaking news, hard-hitting interviews or in-depth investigations, and our iPad app presents that content to the world in a wholly new way,” said KC Estenson, senior vice president and general manager of CNN.com. “This app harnesses the best of what the iPad offers by leveraging striking photos and videos; elegant, multi-touch navigation; and the ability to share content with your friends via social media.”

Focused on creating a transformative news experience for its audience, the CNN App for iPad combines stunning imagery with the most compelling reporting from CNN, including text stories, blog posts, photo galleries, and live or on-demand video. Users have the ability to toggle between U.S. and International News Preferences, both of which serve live video of breaking news and select events as they happen. Additionally, when in the U.S. News Preference, users can listen to hourly audio news updates from CNN Radio.

The CNN App also places strong emphasis on user participation, adding an easily accessible user comment feature that runs alongside content on the screen. Additionally, users can share text stories, images and videos from the App via email, Facebook and Twitter.  

“One of the things about the app that excites us most is the ability to serve the news needs of iPad users while also exposing them to original, enterprise content from CNN that will surprise and delight them,” said Louis Gump, vice president of CNN Mobile.  “The CNN App was built from the ground up with our consumers in mind, and we are proud of the new CNN experience we’ve created for the device.”

The CNN App for iPad provides users with three viewing options: Broadsheet, List View and Slide Show. 

The CNN App is available for free from the App Store on iPad.