Going Mobile or Already Gone
The book industry is writing a new chapter, as Moka LLC, a “personal mobile knowledge assistant provider,” announces Moka mBooks—which delivers a selection of writings from best-selling books directly to cell phones or e-mail via Short Message Service (SMS) text-message and e-mail technology. SMS is available on most digital mobile phones and a steadily increasing range of other devices (including Pocket PC, desktop computers and some fixed phones) that permit the sending of short text messages between these devices.
It is now offering text from 76 introductory titles from authors including Sylvia Browne, Dan Millman, and Wayne Dyer.
“We are proud to be bringing to market the first service of its kind designed to support personal and professional development via the cell phone,” says Michael Donahue, CEO of Moka. “In particular, Moka’s self-improvement and religious mBooks are perfectly suited to deliver an enhanced experience for personal growth. We will be adding many titles over the coming months in new categories including business, health and education. This is a product that most everyone can enjoy as our service works on over 95 percent of U.S. handsets, such as Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Audiovox, Treo, Blackberry, and Sony Ericcson.”
This news comes just in time as the mobile industry anticipates tremendous growth. According to the analyst firm Informa Telecoms & Media, the mobile messaging industry is prepared to double from $68 billion in 2006 to $117 billion in 2110.
According to Informa’s Mobile Messaging Report, predictions show that SMS would still account for approximately half of all of messaging revenues by 2010.
So why would someone want to receive copy from books text-messaged to their cell phones? According to Moka, their service helps people retain more information and stay connected to content that is important to them. Now authors can extend their messages to readers beyond the original experience of sitting down with the book.
Moka’s mBooks use messages of 160 characters or fewer messages to capture the book’s message, and the end user controls the schedule, frequency and delivery method for receiving messages whenever and wherever they choose.
“For the first time ever, consumers will now be able to integrate the teachings of their favorite authors and books into their daily life,” says Diego Winegardner, president of Moka. “Our unique messaging service enables readers to enjoy their mobile phones in new ways on topics of spirituality, philosophy, history, health, business or education.”
The service is available now on major wireless carriers in the U.S., including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint/Nextel and others.
