Oxford University Press has recently made the big jump from print to mobile by releasing a new catalogue of Reference Dictionaries for the iPhone and iPod touch.

White Park Bay Software teamed up with Oxford University Press on this initiative so that for the first time, users have expert knowledge right on their mobile device. The launch consists of 11 of Oxford University Press's most popular specialist dictionaries.

"This is the first time such a complete range of specialist Reference Dictionaries have been available on a mobile handset," said Steve Tagger, marketing director at White Park Bay Software, Manchester, Britain.

"White Park Bay is interested in bringing new content to the iPhone which has a real use for consumers - be they professionals, students or maybe people who just have a passing interest in the subjects," he said.

"We believe by offering more than just a simple port of the data to iPhone, we have created an invaluable resource for anyone requiring specialist knowledge at a moment's notice."

The specialist dictionaries made available by White Park Bay include the Oxford Dictionary of Accounting, Biology, Business and Management, Chemistry, Computing, Finance and Banking, Law, Music, Philosophy, Politics and the Oxford Concise Medical Dictionary.

White Park Bay claims to be pleased with the content provided by Oxford University Press as each of the digital versions of the dictionaries are updated to match the latest print Editions.

The catalogue from White Park Bay offers consumers a broad variety of features that are new to the iPhone such as a vertical ?frame in frame' view which lets users access the index and the definition entry at the same time.

The catalogue also includes features such as the ability to email entries to friends and co-workers.

Each dictionary can be searched to pin-point exact information without browsing in order to save time.

The applications also bookmark and log away history searches so that users can keep track of what they've already searched and access previous entries, if needed.

"The demographics are split by the subjects - it is not one broad consumer," Mr. Tagger said. "So we are working on having conversations with each community through social media and opinion forming news wires and review sites."

White Park Bay claims that the new applications negate the need for anyone, especially students, to lug around heavy books.

The applications are available in the Apple App Store for $14.99 per dictionary.
Should consumers want more information about the applications such as details, features and screens on the titles, they can visit http://www.dictionaryapps.com.

"We are all becoming more accustomed to accessing Apps and content on the go. This means there is a big growth in the market for reference content as consumers become more familiar with reading and accessing this kind of data through their handsets," Mr. Tagger said.

"There's a real tangible benefit in being able to access high quality data when it is needed, no matter where you are," he said. "Quality of content is important for this, which is why we are thrilled to have Oxford University Press as a partner."