Weather Channel courts iPhone users

The Weather Channel launched a new weather application optimized for Apple Inc.’s iPhone and iPod touch. Indeed, being that the iPhone doesn’t support third-party downloads, the new offering is less an application and more of a Web site optimized to work in the unique iPhone and iPod touch environment.
“The full-featured Safari browser on iPhone and iPod touch makes surfing the Net on the go even more popular, so we were anxious to introduce a weather application designed specifically for these mobile users,” said Louis Gump, VP of mobile at The Weather Channel Interactive. “Our application takes advantage of all the great design features of the iPhone and iPod touch while delivering weather from The Weather Channel, the most popular source for weather online.”
The new application, which can be accessed at www.weather.com/iphone or www.apple.com/webapps, introduces enhanced, interactive radar and satellite maps that allow the user to control cloud, radar layers and animations.
The Weather Channel is the latest in a long string of content and application providers to target the iPhone system with tailored offerings. Indeed, even Google Inc. has been working to develop sites and tools for the platform.