Independent Digital has announced a partnership to deliver multiple digital editions of its regional newspapers online using SmartEdition ™ technology from NewspaperDirect.

The first of the regional titles to go live are The Kerryman and The Corkman with other regional titles within the network to follow suit. The launch of the digital editions of the regional newspapers will further strengthen an already thriving Independent Digital. According to figures published in January by ABC Electronic (ABCe), the Independent Digital network of websites1 had 1.7 million unique users and 23 million page impressions in October 2008, a rise of 87% and 27% respectively on its last audited figures.

Welcoming the ABCe figures Ian Byrne, Managing Director, Independent Digital said, "this remarkable growth reflects the progress and investment made by Independent Digital and in particular on our Independent.ie site. The sharp rise in the unique user figures reflects the improving quality of content and the satisfaction of returning Independent.ie site users. The addition of digital editions of the local newspapers that are available to users on a range of new media demonstrate our ability to keep pace with changing and emerging trends in the digital media space."

The SmartEdition™ technology allows users to read their favourite local newspaper anytime, anywhere and also on mobile. The electronic version has the same sections as the traditional newspaper along with the look and feel of the printed product. A variety of digital tools enables readers to make keyword searches, zoom in and out on text and pictures, bookmark pages and print or email stories or pages. Online readers can even hear the stories being read. There is also a translation tool available for eleven languages.

Patrick Lenehan, CTO Independent Digital comments: "we are delighted with the new digital newspapers as they are a great way for our overseas newspaper customers who cannot purchase the paper to keep up to date with the latest news and events from home. The mobile edition is really compelling and I am particularly pleased with how our papers look on the iPhone as it’s a device that more and more of our customers are using. The digital newspaper service is a new channel that our team will be able to offer our advertisers in 2009."

Alex Kroogman, CEO of Newspaper Direct said "having Independent Digital choose NewspaperDirect’s SmartEdition™ technology for all of its digital editions is testament to our shared vision of evolution through the innovative use of technology. Now they can offer their readers anytime/anywhere access to all of their publications on the latest devices."