Mobile Apps Round-up 2/19/10: Pearson Rolls out IT Apps
This week Pearson Education announced the release of its first iPhone and iPad Reader apps for home and office users that are specifically aimed at technical and professional users. The apps are available in both single options or multi-book libraries, and are meant to complement the company’s existing line of print books, e-books and videos. For the IT market these include apps that focus on tools such as CCNA and CompTIA.
“Pearson is excited to add the iPhone/iPad Reader App to our growing suite of learning products,” said Mark L. Taub, Editor-in-Chief at Pearson Education. “Over the years, Pearson has been a leader in digital publishing. We have expanded our catalog beyond print books to include eBooks in multiple formats, robust web offerings, software simulation, video training, and now mobile applications for the iPhone—and soon other mobile platforms. Our goal is to make sure that our authors’ great content is available everywhere our customers demand it. The Pearson iPhone Reader was built smart, including features that matter to our technical customers such as Code View and more.”
These apps will run on the iPhone OS 3.0, as well as iPod Touch models, and even the new Apple iPod. The apps are available for purchase from the Apple App Store.
Feds Looking to Apps
This week Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra reportedly offered the desire to let the government get in on the app act with Apps.gov, a government run Web site for cloud-based apps. This site allows government agencies to use and download different software and services, and Hill.com reported that Kundra wants to build the government site based on its success in the private sector, namely that of the Apple App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch. Kundra already heads up the Data.gov Web site, which provides various government data.
With Apps.gov it likely wouldn’t be limited to just iPhone apps, as the growing community of Android developers would likely get with the .gov as well.
Easy as Apps to Zebbo
This week Zebbo.com announced that it has launched a new mobile payment solution to ease carrier billing. The Zebbo app lets users pay for digital downloads including apps as well as other content and services via their smartphones. The app is available for free download for the Apple iPhone, Google Android and BlackBerry handsets, and will also be integrating with Amazon Payments and other traditional payment methods including credit cards in the near future.
It is currently available in the USA and Canada as well as 21 European nations, and pay-outs can be made to the Zebbo.com Web site, where merchants can also get access to activity, number of users and payout totals.
After Hours App of the Week:
WireWay – There is the right way, the wrong way, even the highway. Now add to that the WireWay for the iPhone and iPod Touch, which is now available from the Apple App Store for $1.99. In this quest game players must journey through 32 levels as a loveable alien named Wiley and collect precious sources of energy to get even better powers and eventually get to the stars!
Check back every Friday for the latest from the world of mobile apps.
