Aug 25 2009
Playing Audio Books On Portable Devices
I was recently contacted by a customer with the following enquiry regarding playing our downloadable audio books on portable devices like cell phones:
Hello,
Would you know how I can use my Nokia E71 to listen to your audio books. Specific, brief, to the point instructions would be appreciated. Also, I would like to test your system prior to purchasing any of your audio books.Thank you.
I thought this might help others in a similar situation, so I am posting below the response our customer received from our support team:
Hi [name withheld for privacy reasons],
Thank you for your interest in our downloadable audiobooks. Listening via a portable device is a complex topic due to the sheer number of these devices, each varying in their capability. Not all devices play all files. However, you’ve asked me to be brief, so that’s what I’ll do
If your aim is to listen via a cellphone, the first thing to do is check it’s manual to see what audio playback capabilities it has.
Then use Advanced Search on the site to list all free titles.
If your cell supports wma DRM playback, filter the free list by format/wma, and choose one.
If your cell only supports mp3 playback, filter the free list by format/mp3, and choose one.
The general download processes and listen options are shown in the video tutorials under the Help tab.
If I can help further, do let me know.
Best regards
Mike.
Mike, our Customer Support Manager, then sent me the following added explanation:
In general, our DRM free mp3 titles will copy to and play on any media enabled device. Most cellphones come in to this category.
Our wma DRM titles, once licensed as shown in our Help video, will sync to compatible devices on Microsoft’s Plays For Sure list here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/playsforsure/default.aspx
such as the Creative we show in the example.
I’ve explained to the customer how he can search for and download a free title in either format.
He’s also quoted “When you use Audible.com, the process is simple and straight forward”.
It is, provided he uses an iPod or other compatible device and is happy with a monthly commitment.
They don’t support all devices, whereas our offering will copy to any device, either sync’ing if the player is compatible, or burning CD’s/ripping them as mp3’s, if it isn’t.
If you own a portable device and are interested in downloading and playing audio books on your device, I hope the above helps you. Feel free to browse through our extensive selection of best-selling audio book titles and if you have any questions, you can be sure that myself and our excellent Customer Support Team will be there to help you.
Martin Aranovitch
www.AudioBookOne.net
