Contact: Brian Burch, 616-233-0500

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 1 /Christian Newswire/ -- Zondervan today announced that GoBible is offering a free preview app featuring the Book of John for customers interested in purchasing the Read it/Hear it NIV GoBible iPhone App. The NIV GoBible is a comprehensive Bible program that lets the user both read and listen to the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. The program has been developed with the goal of making the Bible as accessible and enjoyable as possible.

Users may navigate the menu and begin simultaneous audio and text play at any of the 31,000 plus individual verses in the Bible with just a few clicks. The user may also, for convenience, browse and play through the Story Index which has more than 225 of the most popular Bible stories arranged by testament.

The app also contains a Topic Index which gives Scriptural guidance on approximately 30 different circumstances and emotions. Another popular feature, the Holiday/Events Index, offers passages relevant to more than a dozen important Christian and secular holidays, as well as important days that mark our lives.

The Read it/Hear it NIV GoBible App also has a Bible-in-a-Year plan which allows the user, in about 10-15 minutes per day, read and listen to the entire Bible in one year.

"This technology is fantastic in that it allows the user to customize is so many ways how they want to access the Bible and use in their daily lives," said Chip Brown, Zondervan Senior Vice President of Bibles.

To help organize Bible study, favorite passages can be marked. The app has the capability for the user to mark an unlimited number of Bookmarks, which are easily accessible at all times. In addition, there is a Keyword Search feature that offers the user the ability to search the Bible text for certain words and phrases.

The text and audio of the app is the NIV Bible, the most popular modern English Bible translation in the world. The narrator is Charles Taylor, whose voice-only reading of the NIV is rich, focused and soothing to the ear. The Read it/Hear It NIV GoBible iPhone App costs $44.99 and can be purchased through the Apple ITunes store here.

About GoBible
GoBible is a new media and consumer products company that leverages cutting edge technology with a focus on Christian content. Founded in 2005 in New York City, GoBible seeks to fill a void in the space of delivering religious content to Christians using the latest technologies available. The company's products include MP3 players preloaded with the entire audio narration of the Bible, a download site where users can download dozens of Bible narrations as well as hundreds of Christian audio books and IPhone Applications that allow users to simultaneously read and listen to the Bible. Presently, GoBible products are sold online at www.gobible.com, in thousands of Christian bookstores in the United States, Canada and Great Britain, as well as in major US retailers and television shopping networks.

About Zondervan
Zondervan, a HarperCollins company is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with offices in Seattle, Chicago and Miami, Zondervan publishes its bestselling Bibles, books, audio, video, curriculum, software, and digital products through its Zondervan, eZondervan, Zonderkidz and Editorial Vida brands. Zondervan resources are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by Zondervan ChurchSource, and are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries. Visit Zondervan on the Internet at www.zondervan.com.