The Belfast Telegraph is set to launch paid-for daily editions of the newspaper on iPad and iPhone this month.

It will make the apps available to iPad users for £5.99 a month and iPhone users for £2.99, with those who register now being offered 30 days free.

The paper says its website now consistently has over one million readers a month and it will launch the apps in partnership with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Digital publisher Sam McIlveen said the Telegraph hoped to grow its readership dramatically with the move.

He said: “By 2013, mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common web access device worldwide according to a Gartner 2010 survey.

“By providing our award-winning news coverage and high quality editorial in a made-to-measure online package, we aim to grow our readership dramatically.

“Mobility and access to information are two key pre-requisites for successful modern living and we have geared up our online designs and presence to be accessible and easy to read on peoples’ phones and tablets.

“The Belfast Telegraph has always been to the fore in the fast-changing media landscape and this development is a clear demonstration of our commitment to our readers and advertisers to provide the best quality coverage to as wide a readership as possible.”

The paper first revealed its plans to launch the apps in November, which came after it created three free iPhone apps for its property, motors and recruitment platforms.