The Future of Magazines?

The nation’s top magazine publishers have come together to release an app that may be a harbinger of the future of the publishing industry.

Next Issue, a joint venture between Conde Nast, Hearst, Meredith, News Corp. and Time Inc., announced Wednesday the launch of a digital “newsstand” for Android tablets—an iPad version is coming soon.

The app offers readers, for $9,99 a month, access to a wide catalog of popular titles, including Better Homes and Gardens, ELLE, Esquire, Fortune, Glamour, Parents, People, Real Simple, Sports Illustrated, The New Yorker, TIME, and Vanity Fair.

The release of the app comes amidst steady declines in print magazine circulation and just days after the New York Times amped up its paywall.

Next Issue launches with 32 titles available and more slated to come online within the year.

"This is a game changer for customers," said Morgan Guenther, CEO of Next Issue Media.  "We're bringing it all together.  The most popular magazines, a great reading experience, interactive content and unlimited access to our entire catalog – with lots more to come."

"Next Issue has delivered an extraordinary digital magazine experience to customers in an easy-to-use app," said Steve Sachs, Executive Vice President, Consumer Marketing and Sales, Time Inc.  "The breadth of the catalog will include their favorites, while providing the opportunity to discover new magazines."

Next Issue runs on Android 3.0 or later, and will be available for iPad in the coming weeks, once they receive App Store approval.