YouView, the latest digital television service to arrive in the U.K., has today announced that it is launching a new Android app. The app will be much like the iOS version, allowing you to control your YouView box from your smartphone, and it’ll hit Google Play in “the next couple of weeks.”

The YouView app will let subscribers scroll through a TV guide to see what’s on with a simple “now and next” view, and it’ll offer synopses for each show. It’ll also allow users to set shows to record so that they can watch them later.

The app works over both Wi-Fi and a 3G or 4G data connection, so even when you’re away from home you can control your recordings. There’s also a possibility that the app will allow you to watch Freeview channels on your device, CNET reports.

The YouView app will initially be compatible with smartphones running the Android 2.3 operating system, so almost all modern devices should be able to run it.

YouView also announced today that it is now installed in over 400,000 homes across the U.K., which viewers watching 2.2 million video streams per week. The company also said that it will be adding additional channels to its service over the next 4-6 weeks.

YouView combines traditional TV channels with modern catch-up services from the likes of the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4. As well as giving users the ability to watch Freeview channels at no cost, there are also paid options for those who want sports and other services.

• ViaCNET