Microsoft, CJ Fallon introduce cloud service for textbooks

Life

9 February 2012

Microsoft Ireland has partnered with textbook publisher CJ Fallon to deliver school books via the Windows Azure Programme. By the beginning of the 2012 school year parents will be able to save up to 25% on the cost of schoolbooks through CJ Fallon’s eReader platform.

Orla Sheridan, consumer channels group director, Microsoft Ireland, said: "The partnership between Microsoft and CJ Fallon is a great example of how Cloud applications like Windows Azure can enable the ability of all sectors to transition to the cloud. Through this service, CJ Fallon are cuttings costs for parents, making lesson planning for teachers easier and supporting the move of the Irish education system to an online forum. This is a great initiative and a great use of Microsoft Windows Azure Programme."

The eReader is available free of charge on the CJ Fallon website and can be used to ‘unlock’ specific titles for usage based on a flexible licensing model. Schools are given direct access to a licence manager to enable them to target specific resources at individual users or class groups.

Brian Gilsenan, CEO of CJ Fallon Publishers, said: "We’ve many of our books already available through the cloud and are set to bring all of them online by September 2012. As well as the distribution of school books to students through the cloud, we will be launching a new personalised MyCJFallon service in coming months. Through this teachers will be able to access and save all of their favourite CJ Fallon resources which are provided to support all of our major titles, from eBooks, animations, audio, video and interactives, to their own profile via the CJ Fallon website. We hope this platform will be beneficial for teachers, students and parents alike."