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Military press Osprey Publishing, which picked up the Consumer Publishing award at this weekend's IPG Awards, has made five history books available as "freemium" apps via the Apple e-commerce store.
This is the first time Osprey has entered the world of enhanced e-books, partnering up with Exact Editions for the development. Freemium is designed to offer a "try before you buy" approach: basic versions of Philippi, Iwo Jima, Warsaw, First Crusade and Fredericksburg can be downloaded for free, with readers able to upgrade to the full version at £4.99 per book through 'in-app purchasing'.
Daryl Rayner, managing director of Exact Editions, said: "Book publishers are viewing this model as a fantastic new way to promote the quality and richness of fully illustrated books. By offering a significant sliver of the content, completely accessible through a 'freemium' app, the iPhone is being used to its full potential."
Rebecca Smart, managing director of Osprey Publishing, added: "The iPhone, with its brilliantly sharp colour screen and touch interface, [is] a great platform, encouraging our readers to take these Osprey books with them on to the battlefield. Or even more conveniently, to buy the books on impulse, when they are standing where the armies were deployed."