The Associated Press announced today that they are planning on developing an iPad application. The application will be the debut for the company's new "AP Gateway" unit that will focus on getting news content on mobile devices, the first being the iPad. The application will focus on local news, but also give worldwide news as well. It also appears that the iPad application will be subscription-based, with no announced price yet. However, an Associated Press executive said that the application might very well be free at launch.

"The group already has drawn up plans to charge for an application designed for the iPad, a 1.5-pound tablet computer that Apple Inc. is scheduled to release at the end of March. The price of the application has yet to be determined, although it might start free, according to Jane Seagrave, a senior vice president who becomes the AP's chief revenue officer Monday.

Much like the AP Mobile news product, the iPad app will show custom packages of headlines, stories, photos and video from the AP and from newspapers and broadcasters that choose to contribute their content and share the revenue. AP members also could use the same system to offer their own iPad apps that show their own content." There is a similar pricing dispute that is reportedly happening at The New York TImes as well, over what the newspaper giant should charge for subscription for their upcoming iPad application. AP currently has an iPhone application available in the App Store (free).