New Bango-powered service turns mobiles into libraries

Bango have launched a new service that turns your mobile into a library. Their billing/digital fingerprint technologies are being used by Macmillan Publishing for their ‘The Global Reader’ service that aims to give consumers access to books, articles, newspapers and other print content on mobiles easily and inexpensively. Global Reader is mobile-web based — and, as one of the developers, Bob Kasher points out, they “never envisioned people would want to read War and Peace on their phones,”… well, not in one sitting, anyway. Instead, Kasher reckons people might want to read a few chapters of a book whilst traveling or commuting instead of lugging an entire printed copy with them.

Definitely.

Let’s be clear, it’s not that much of a hassle to carry a book with you. But, in today’s convenience world, I often get a bit annoyed having to carry a book. You do need a book if you’re going anywhere on British Transport though. If I’m going to meet with a venture capitalist to ask him for $10m for my company, I *probably* wouldn’t take my copy of Terry Pratchett’s latest with me on the train — because unless I have a bag (I like traveling light), then I’m going to have to walk into the office with the book. Great if he’s a fan, not great if he’s wondering why I wasn’t studying my business plan copiously on the journey to his office.

Ergo, I am all for electronic books. I used to read tons of them on my Compaq iPAQ ages ago. I think, if implemented nicely, I’d be well up for using a service like this.

There’s another situation where I can see technology like this being particularly useful. If you’re into reading, I’m willing to bet that at some point you’ve walked by a poster advertising a new book that you want to read or were waiting to come out. I’d very much like the opportunity to be able to text — spend a few pounds — and get that book, half the book or just a few chapters on my phone to read on the train.

Smart.