A multimedia information application created by RIA Novosti for iPad has secured the 26th place in world ratings on free programs, beating out other world resources in the news category.

The application is available for free download at the App Store. The program enables users to keep constantly abreast of the latest course of events. The application became available on August 5 and in the first four days more than 3,000 downloads were made.

RIA Novosti's application has become more popular than other information resources like MTV News, Paris Match magazine and Le Figaro newspaper, which hold 33rd, 92nd, and 99th place respectively in news resources.

The application's interface has user-friendly navigation, which groups the news into genres: image galleries, infographics and cartoons. Thus, users will watch information rather than read it.

"The iPad apps are not just the latest development for a modern handset; it's a movement towards a unified multipurpose media platform. Of course, the main emphasis will be laid at visual and multimedia information," RIA Novosti Internet Projects Director Natalya Loseva said.

"It is a very interesting experiment for us because the development of touch-screen tablets is likely to change information obtaining scenarios," Loseva said.

RIA Novosti in English is now available for free from the App Store on iPad at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id384064577?mt=8.

MOSCOW, August 12 (RIA Novosti)