While owning a phone used to just be about being able to call someone, with the introduction of smartphones and now users are playing games, sending e-mails and communicating on social networks. Another way many are using their phones is for learning, whether it be on the move or in lying in bed. One Korean startup, Waterbear Soft is leading the market in mobile education, having released over 200 apps on both Android and iOS.
Waterbear Soft is a mobile app developer startup that creates a wide range of educational apps for many different ages. With many apps focused towards language study and toddlers, the company has high potential to create revenue from their software, especially in a nation like South Korea where studying makes up for much of ones childhood.
The company’s first app and flagship product, the “Updown” series has done particularly well and features English, Japanese, French plus many other languages. High sales have been recorded in countries such as Japan and Taiwan for these titles. Other apps are aimed at younger users with many apps that are entirely in English to help children learn in a fun and interactive way. Wasting no time, the company has already opened offices in both Japan and China, with plans to expand to other markets such as the U.S and Europe.
Founder Sewon Cho says that while he might not have the skills to run an educational institute, Waterbear Soft excels in the mobile industry. Focused on creating user interfaces which stand out from other apps, the startup attempts to help facilitate the process of learning through its products. As study methods gradually change within Korea, Cho says that his company wants to help users make the transition.
“Through our services I would like help users in the Gangwon-do area get the same education as those living in Seoul.”
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Waterbear Soft’s ultimate vision is to combine multimedia, mobile and interactive elements into one place in order to create a better learning experience for the user. One of these ways is in the form of digital publishing and textbooks. Entrepreneur Cho originally founded the company in 2010 after thinking about the future of upcoming changes in the classroom. One of the things that was sure to change was the paper textbook.
“The main difference between e-books and app-books are the interactive elements, and how much of these are incorporated. I think that just simply looking at an e-book does not do it justice.”
South Korea has said that it will swap out old paper textbooks for digital ones by 2015, lightening the load of children’s’ backpacks, often filled with heavy books. Cho says that digital textbooks have to reflect the needs of the student and teachers. Teachers are able to manage students easily and students can be supported through features such as digital dictionaries and answer sheets.
The company is preparing to position itself as a leader in the digital text book industry with funding received from Stonebridge Captial in September, 2011. Waterbear Soft plans to use the capital to prepare its future goal of introducing textbooks into the classrooms of Elementary and Middle schools.
A list of Waterbear Soft’s products can be viewed on both the iTunes App Store and Google Play.
Check out Waterbear Soft’s website here or follow them on Twitter or Facebook.
