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Urban Planet Mobile has used CTIA to launch Urban English, “the first, biggest, and best audio English learning line created specifically for mobile phone distribution.”
It’s easy to understand Urban Planet’s entrance into the mobile world. At present over 1.1 billion people worldwide learn English language and that number is projected to reach 2 billion by 2020. Last year, people spent $20 billion on English learning materials and that amount is expected to reach up to $30 billion this year.
Each Urban English audio word-a-day, phrase-a-day, and learning comprehension conversation reaches more than 80% of mobile phones. The technology for delivery is in place. The devices are in the hands of the people already. With a simple, affordable subscription delivery model, people worldwide can have audio English programs at their fingertips.
Commenting on the announcement, Urban Planet Mobile’s CEO Brian OliverSmith said: “The mobile phone is fundamentally an audio delivery device. I determined to build Urban English, audio English lessons, specifically for mobile phone distribution. Now I am introducing the markets to one another and watching the fireworks.”
The markets available September 2008 are native Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Bengali, Russian, Arabic, and Portuguese speakers learning English. The company plans to expand to additional markets by January 2009.
[Image from IAmLearn]
About The Author
Dusan Belic
Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.
