Did you know there is an army of about 100 volunteers who help a team of employees at the Church create mobile phone applications for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
The volunteer effort began in 2006 with the launch of LDS Tech (tech.lds.org). Volunteers can help with design, programming, project management, or even answering support e-mails from customers. It’s a big effort that couldn’t progress as quickly as it does without the help of volunteers. If you want to help, go to tech.lds.org and fill out a talent profile to see which projects best fit your skill set.
The Church currently offers four free apps for several mobile phone platforms, which have been downloaded over 800,000 times.
- Mormon Channel was the Church’s first mobile app, launched in June 2009. It lets you listen to the Mormon Channel, the Church’s radio station (radio.lds.org).
- Gospel Library app lets you download the scriptures, general conference talks, and a wealth of other Church content. To date, Gospel Library books within the app have been downloaded over 13 million times.
- LDS Tools lets members access ward and stake directories and calendars.
- Scripture Mastery app helps you memorize scriptures.
The Mormon Channel and Gospel Library apps will be released in Spanish and German in March. The Church is also looking to develop other apps that could benefit from volunteer efforts.
You can download the Church’s mobile apps from mobile.lds.org, the Android Market, or by searching “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” in the iTunes app store.
Read more in the story “Mormon Mobile Phone Apps Have Strong Roots in Volunteer Work” in the Church’s Newsroom.
Larry,
Any idea when these apps will be available on Windows Phone 7? I recently purchased a new Windows Phone which I believe will become a very strong platform. So far the phone has 8,000 apps with 500 more arriving per week. I have found all the apps I want on the new platform except these… I’m hoping there are plans for these apps to be developed.
Thanks,
Patrick
Patrick, the developers are working on the Windows phone 7 version now. It should be ready for public consumption in the March/April timeframe.