Launched in China in 2007, Mobiledu is a mobile service that provides English-language learning materials and other educational content, from a variety of content providers, directly to mobile phones. Customers can access the content through an application preloaded on new Nokia handsets, or by visiting the service's mobile website and most other WAP portals in China.
Since its launch, Mobiledu has already attracted 20 million subscribers in China, with 1.5 million people actively using the service each month. Mobiledu will continue to be delivered to customers in China through a range of channels, including Nokia's Ovi Store.
The new joint venture company will combine the world class expertise of Nokia in mobile devices and services, and Pearson's assets and expertise in education, to deliver a wide range of services to meet the high demand for education in China. Headed by Angela Long, formerly head of Mobiledu at Nokia, the Beijing-based company will begin operations immediately.
Robert Andersson, senior vice president and head of corporate alliances and business development at Nokia, said: "We are proud to have developed a service which is already highly valued. We believe that through this partnership with Pearson, a global industry leader in education, we can offer an exciting future for this service and its customers."
John Fallon, CEO of Pearson's International Education business, said: "China is the world's largest mobile phone market and the country with the largest number of people learning English. This is a great opportunity to combine Pearson's English language learning and wider educational services with the mobile technology capabilities of Nokia to meet this demand and help a larger number of people achieve their aspirations."