Followers of AlbertLeaTribune.com on smartphones — cell phones such as iPhone and Blackberry — now can download software to enable them to follow world, national and local news.

The Associated Press has rolled out AP Mobile, and the Tribune is a participant.

AlbertLeaTribune.com indeed can be viewed on a smartphone, but AP Mobile’s template is set up to be one-stop browsing for headlines and stories. Readers can get Tribune news alongside AP news from around the globe. AP coverage ranges from sports and business to entertainment and politics.

“AP developed AP Mobile News to give its members another way to reach news consumers,” said Paul Caluori, director of AP Client Content Services. “People now turn to many types of media for news, and many of them want to see the rich and engaging stories from their local papers — even if they’re not looking at a newspaper or sitting at their computers.”

Here is how Blackberry users can get the feature: On their phone’s Internet browser, go to http://bb.apnews.com and download the application. Follow the instructions. Eventually, enter a zip code. Entering the Albert Lea zip code of 56007 — or a zip from a neighboring city, such as 56097 for Wells — will result in AlbertLeaTribune.com headlines under the “local” category.

The application will appear either in the “Applications” menu or the “Games” menu as an icon of a press fedora.

Users of Apple’s iPhone can do the same by starting at http://bit.ly/mnn.

Time Magazine in 2008 listed the application as one its Top 10 for iPhone.

“The Associated Press’ news-on-demand app is the gold standard,” the story said.

There is an AP Mobile blog, too: http://blog.apnews.com/
. And if anyone has questions, just visit the home page: http://www.apnews.com/.

Only a handful of newspapers in Minnesota presently are capable of providing headlines with AP Mobile.

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer said the technology is part of the Tribune’s dedication to users of all kinds of media.

“People with connections to Albert Lea can be found all around the world and they read our news,” he said. “But even people who live here find it convenient to get the latest local and national news on their phones. AP Mobile is simply another way to get it.”