Digital publishing conduit Snapplify launches Android platform

If you haven’t heard of Snapplify, it’s a solution that enables publishers, authors and content providers to convert their books, magazines and brochures into digital publications.

If the concept sounds compelling to you and you happen to be in London between 16 and 18 April this year, Snapplify will be on hand at the London Book Fair to launch its new Android platform.

Its iOS version currently supports publishers such as iMaverick, Random House Struik, New Holland Publishing and Fiell Publishing.

CEO Wesley Lynch says other items on the London agenda include the strengthening of Snapplify’s regional channels and touts Snapplify as the panacea for publishers that long to digitise their content. “We offer their clients — publishers with little or no skills in digital content — the opportunity to ‘applify’ their back and forward catalogues instantly, at no upfront cost. Monetisation and distribution is taken care of with the tablet app store model, so it really is very compelling. One can almost hear the global sigh of relief. Since small outfits can join us at no cost and grow with us, we think we will quickly ramp up with localised applications that meet local wants and needs, and quick, efficient distribution of the core service to new markets.”

Snapplify launched at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2011. Lynch says the Frankfurt and London events aim to position Snapplify as a global company and thinks Snapplify’s regional channel model has the local legs to support clients through growing pains.

“Our objective is to be in every corner of the globe. At Frankfurt, we applified an Australian publisher’s content there and then, and had an instant convert as a result. In London, we plan to do the same. Bring your content and we’ll do the rest.”

In the last few weeks, Snapplify has signed a number of new clients across the English- and Arabic-speaking world, including Kotobarabia and Ka Boom Studios in the US.

The Cape town-based startup has expanded to London to handles new business development, partner and customer relationship management, and on-the-ground support.