As reading news online without a fee now seems getting closer to a paid phenomenon, CNN now brings in new iPhone applications with a price tag of $1.99.

The new-fangled applications are an assortment of appealing and customizable service to the news where one can save stories, access live streaming videos all with an open doorway for citizen journalism and joining the CNN reporting team where one can upload photos, videos and stories happening around.

Reuters highlights few features added as stated in  the press release:

• Users can flick through news stories across categories. Additionally, when the device is rotated horizontally, stories can be flipped through quickly.
• Each story features bulleted highlights above the full article, designed to satisfy mobile “snackers,” allowing them to scan through the latest stories, as well as meet the needs of users who want the whole story.
• Local news, weather and traffic based on user’s actual location or the ability to select a specific location.
• Ability to “follow” a story or topic: As CNN publishes breaking news alerts or new stories related to a chosen topic, the app will push the updates to the device.
• “Saved” content, which enables users to access text stories even when they’re offline.

Affirming that the new applications are most significant user needs, Louis Gump, vice president of CNN Mobile said “The new app is one of the best user experiences around, and will quickly become an essential daily news source for many iPhone and iPod Touch users.”

This  will be the first time CNN has created a direct uplink from a mobile device to its iReport platform and is also seems pretty convinced that readers would not be much reluctant to pay the price as  KC Estenson, general manager for CNN.com. statement reads “It really depends on the quality and nature of what you’re putting into the market.”

However the NPR News app has been popular since the moment it was released and now CNN bringing TV news to iPhone is a bold move. Being able to read breaking news anywhere anytime,  ability to “save” stories you want to read later without being connected to it, watch on-demand clips related to breaking news and then probability to be a part of CNN’s reporting team is an absolute beneficial deal. It appears that CNN is surely aiming to get its steps fastened firmly on the media ground and emerge as an unbeaten winner.