6 Things You Should Know About Mobipocket

In a past article, I talked abut creating information products for handheld devices using the Palm Database (or .PDB) file format. Today let’s take a look at another format, also created to deliver content on handheld devices, called Mobipocket. Here are 6 things you should know about Mobipocket.

1. Mobipocket files are called .PRC files. Like .PDB files, they can be read on any device running the PalmOS or PocketPC system. In addition, they can also be read on Windows CE, Casio BE-300 -– and quite notably –- the Symbian OS, which is the operating system used by many smart phones. This means Mobipocket files are readable on just about any portable device from a Palm handheld to a Nokia phone, giving it one of the greatest cross-platform reaches available.
   
2. One of the most exciting features of Mobipocket is its eNews channels, which are streams of information created by users. You can take any of your web pages, blog entries or RSS feeds and quickly turn them into a Mobipocket news channel. From there, you list your content in the Mobipocket channel menu where readers can select your feed and download it to their handheld on a regular basis. In other words, this feature allows you to automate the process of streaming fresh content to your readers’ handhelds. It appears few blog owners have discovered this distribution channel, however, as the Mobipocket eNews menu currently lists just 46 blogs.
   
3. To create Mobipocket files, you will need to download a free copy of Mobipocket Creator.
   
4. Sadly, all versions of the Mobipocket Creator run on Windows for PC. It seems odd that the file format’s developers would make the format compatible with so many handheld devices only to restrict the creation of the files to a single platform, but that’s the way it is. Mac users are plain out of luck.
   
5. Although you will be hard-pressed to find the announcement anywhere, it has been confirmed that last month Amazon.com purchased Mobipocket, previously a privately owned company based in France. No one at Amazon.com is spilling the beans about what they intend to do with Mobipocket but likely you will see the online retailer heavily supporting Mobipocket format e-books, which should open up yet another distribution channel for Mobipocket creators.
   
6. To read Mobipocket .PRC files, users need to have a copy of the Mobipocket Reader installed on their handheld device. The reader is available to download at no charge.