EnableM Launches the World’s First Mobile “Interactive” Book

Have you ever wondered what the text-book of the future will look like? Not the e-book version of the text- book or the interactive book with multi-media options that are being developed currently, but just the future of the published text-books. Does it have any hope of survival and if so, to what extent?

It is definitely going to be a very long time before the physical book dies a complete death, given the odds in its favor, and looking at the massive base of users, especially in the emerging markets where the ability of the written word to deliver learning and more importantly a livelihood are unchallenged, keeping in mind the economic factors that govern the same. Also, reading a book in the printed format has its own charm and it is a habit which is hard to give up. Having said that, there is going to be immense transformation in the way books in general and textbooks in particular are written.

EnableM, a pioneer in mobile learning and a trendsetter in mobile Value Added Services (VAS) has been involved in searching for solutions to add more dimensions to learning with the printed format. Its extensive primary research and study of end users has helped in building a format that marries ‘physical’ published material with mobile channels to evolve a new category of ‘interactive books’.
The first set in this category is the Mobi-Learns English book, a pocket sized version that acts as the gateway for learning through its textual and visual content and the short codes at key intervention points within the book linking it to mobile channels including SMS, IVR and LIVE Calls, to provide a complete learning experience.
The Consumer Research team at Enable Mobile Technology designed the book after extensive research and pilots in the small towns and villages of Maharashtra.
The constraints of traditional learning (through classrooms or conventional books) and the opportunities for m-learning is summed up well by an auto-rickshaw driver in Pune, who says, “Working for twelve hours a day to feed my family is my priority. I would love to be educated only if education comes to me and I don’t have to travel to education. Also, I have crossed the age for learning from a thick fat text book”.
Most of the people with similar backgrounds and constraints agreed that a pocket sized book with clear, scheduled blending of bare essentials in print and directions to use the mobile platform can achieve wonders.
EnableM’s COO, Mr Subrata Dey, an IIM (Ahmedabad) alumni with over 10 years experience in education management and research presented the Mobi-Learns English framework and findings as a late- breaking research paper titled ‘English via Mobiles: Potential M-learners amongst Indian Students and Drivers’, at the 8th World Conference on Mobile & Contextual learning in Orlando, Florida, U.S in December 2009 and hugely appreciated as a game changer the publishing industry across emerging markets. Says Mr. Dey, “The survey indicates that there is a unanimous demand for learning English. However, constraints imposed by one’s occupations and available resources expose the limitations of traditional learning and opens up a huge opportunity for m-learning. However, m-learning for the masses cannot mean ‘learning through mobiles only’. If mobile technology has to be used by the masses for their education then the adaption will happen faster if it is blended through a medium that has existed for most of our recorded history. And that medium is the printed book”.
The first offering is MobiLearns English course. It is a conversational English course taught through various everyday situations and is developed in accordance to the prescribed guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), an international framework for language learning.
Along with getting daily SMSes the learners can listen to conversations based on situations on IVR which are in sync with the chapters of the book. Practice tests and personalized assessments are part of the learning package that help the learner evaluate himself constantly. Subscribers have the option to select their level of learning (Starter, Basic, Intermediate & Advanced), based on their proficiency in the language.
Besides the obvious advantages of a complete learning experience Mobi-Learns also scores across various other parameters including:
• Providing learners personalized assessment tools and a comparative across the masses
• Create micro community and interest groups on topics from within the book
• Additional content delivery for various topics and services
• Providing publishers with key user data on preferences, habits etc. of end users.

Mr. Amit Zaveri, CEO of EnableM, said, ‘EnableM is in advance talk with publishers in the skill development business and mobile operators, and device manufacturers for distribution as well as various government bodies accreditation of ‘Book as a Course’ format.”. According to him, Mobi Learns English is a starting point and in a short time, multiple other titles and formats will be available that will change the way books are published.’
Mr. Zaveri adds, ”Mobilearns series is the answer to the limitations of m-learning in the emerging markets where the penetration of smart phones is limited.“ He pointed out that Mobilearns English is not only affordably priced vis-a- vis other conventional modes but is also sized comfortably to fit into a pocket. Mobi learns series is slated to address in future other areas of skill development like Telemarketing, Retail Training and Nursing.
Has the future of the book been redefined? The answer to this only time will tell, but Team EnableM are sure that they have the ’future‘in their hands..

About Enable M:
EnableM is a leading VAS company focused on providing innovation in development and delivery of education products and services through mobile devices. It is working closely with publishers, mobile operators, aggregators, device manufacturers, media companies and government bodies to define a strong ecosystem for M-learning formats and standards. The company has developed an impressive portfolio of products and services across categories like Language Learning, Testing and Assessments and Career Information and Guidance across multiple mobile formats in isolation and in converged environments with other media channels.
For more information, visit www.enablem.com.

Enable Mobile Technologies Pvt Ltd.,
302, Stanford Plaza, Plot No. b/65,
Off New Link Rd., Andheri (W),
Mumbai - 53, India.

(p) +9122 409 34300

Contact- Vinita Gopalkrishnan ,Product Manager

(p) +9122 409 34300/ Mobile- 9821828871
@ vinita.gopal@enablem.com

This release was published on openPR.