The partners have launched The Global Reader, a service that gives consumers access to books, articles, newspapers and other print content on their phone. Bango’s technology ensures that consumers on any mobile network, anywhere in the world, can browse content and make purchases via their phone bill, by credit card, or PayPal.

Macmillan worked with Bango partner Fli Digital to develop a content management system for WAP, and integrated it with Bango’s identification and payment services technology. The ability to authenticate users means consumers can assemble a ‘library’ of free and paid for books. There’s also a ‘bookmark’ feature that allows the reader to save longer reads.

“We never envisioned people would want to read War and Peace on their phones,” said Bob Kasher, one of the developers of The Global Reader. “What we responded to was the idea that millions of people have mobile phones in their pockets. Bango helped us make the process of selling and buying books over the mobile web simple and fun.”