Vodaphone launches world’s first operator-branded mobile ebook store
By Paul Biba
Vodaphone announced today that they have teamed up with GoSpoken to have their own branded ebook store. From the press release:
Vodafone and GoSpoken have sold books to Vodafone customers for more than a year but together are offering an enhanced end-to-end user experience to purchase and read bestselling titles on mobile handsets following the success of millions of books downloaded from the iPhone. GoSpoken also recently created a bespoke book application for Vodafone 360’s social platform which is currently available across 7 countries.
Tom McLennan, Head of Music at Vodafone UK said: “Mobile books constitute a new growth opportunity and are an exciting addition to the range of content already on Vodafone Live!
GoSpoken will be launching similar projects with T-Mobile and Orange by the end of the month. The launch follows GoSpoken’s recent investment from Japanese mobile book giant, For-Side.com Co., Ltd. GoSpoken will be expanding across European and American markets in 2010.
With the convenience of on-bill payment, the service will offer thousands of titles to download directly onto mobile handsets – including mega bestsellers like the Twilight saga by Stephanie Meyer, thrillers from James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell and classics like Sherlock Holmes. Audio books will be available from the superstore shortly starting with the award-winning Pimsleur language learning books. By the end of January, over 10,000 eBooks will be available to the majority of handsets connected with Vodafone UK, and eventually the whole Vodafone user base.
Tony Lynch, CEO of Mobcast Services, said: “We’re now seeing customers buy books on a weekly basis – this is something that is catching on. One satisfied customer purchased and read 10 Mills & Boon books in 10 days over Christmas, see her feedback quote below…
Stacey: I love this website! I stumbled across completely by mistake one day and haven’t looked back lol, I must of spent a small fortune on here buts it’s been worth every penny, and have never had a problem buying from you xx”
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