Google’s ‘Currents’ enters digital magazine battle unfolding on smartphones, computer tablets

Google is joining a crowd of companies packaging digital content in a magazine-like format for mobile devices.

The Internet search leader released its version, called “Currents,” Thursday. It works on smartphones and computer tablets running on Google’s Android software, as well as Apple Inc.’s operating system and its iPhone and iPad.


Currents is late to the competition. It will be trying to catch up to Flipboard, one of the most popular applications on the iPad, and Zite, which is owned by Time Warner Inc.’s CNN. Yahoo Inc. released a similar product called Livestand last month.

Google Inc. says more than 150 publishers have agreed to provide material to Currents. The participating publishers include Forbes, PBS, Huffington Post and AllThingsD.

Details on how Currents’ ad revenue will be divided weren’t disclosed.