WASHINGTON - Playboy founder Hugh Hefner is bringing his iconic men's magazine to the iPad.

The octogenarian publisher, in a message on his Twitter feed, @hughhefner, said current and back issues of Playboy would be available on the Apple device in March.

"Big news! Playboy -- both old & new -- will be available on iPad beginning in March," Hefner said.

He did not provide any more details but in response to a question from a Twitter follower Hefner said "Playboy on iPad will be uncensored."

A Playboy spokeswoman said Playboy for the iPad will be a Web-based subscription service with Bondi Digital Publishing that will be "iPad compatible and will utilize iPad functions."

She said the Chicago-based company also plans to release a "non-nude"

version of a Playboy-branded iPad application in the coming months that "adheres to all of Apple's policies and guidelines."

Apple has a strict policy of banning nudity in applications for the iPhone and the iPad sold through its App Store.

Playboy already offers an iPhone application for 99 cents that does not feature nudity.

Hefner's iPad announcement came just over a week after he struck a deal to return Playboy Enterprises to private ownership.

(AFP)