YouVersion's Bible App Surpasses 50 Million Installs, Increases Bible Literacy with 'Google Era' Features

Launches Now.YouVersion.com to track engagement across the world in real time
Contact: Julie Shutley, A. Larry Ross Communications, 972-267-1111, 214-457-1398, julie@alarryross.com
OKLAHOMA CITY, May 10, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Fifty million people around the globe have installed the Bible App by YouVersion on their mobile device, enabling them to read the best-selling book of all time, anywhere at any time. With features that allow users to share the Bible with their social networks, do daily devotions in line at the supermarket and have instant access to the Bible, The Bible App is moving God's Word from the Gutenberg to Google era.
A Pew Research study released yesterday found that 70 percent of all cell phone owners and 86 percent of smartphone owners have used their phones in the previous 30 days to perform "just in time" activities such as finding a sport's score, getting traffic information or coordinating a meeting. For the 50 million who have installed the Bible App, it is likely they will be using their smart phone for Bible engagement. Since its creation, the YouVersion community has spent more than 22 billion minutes on the Bible App, creating more than 100 million bookmarks, and highlighting more than 80 million verses.
A new webpage on YouVersion.com, now.youversion.com, tracks users' daily engagement with the Bible. Up-to-the-minute statistics display usage of the Bible App around the world -- reading plans started in New Zealand, Bible chapters listened to in Tunisia, bookmarks created in China, and more.
"At every minute of the day, somewhere in the world, people are using the Bible App to spend time in Scripture," said Gruenewald. "Not only are people installing the Bible App in record numbers, they are using it, consistently on a daily basis."
The Bible App offers 294 versions of the Bible in 144 languages. YouVersion.com launched in September 2007 and the Bible app launched in July 2008. The Bible App allows users to bookmark verses; share Scripture through email, Twitter, and Facebook; journal their thoughts; and more.
"Time spent in God's word correlates with a closer relationship with Him," said Bobby Gruenewald, Innovation Leader at LifeChurch.tv. "Our hope is to make it even easier for people to send time in the Word and increase their engagement and understanding of the Bible."
YouVersion and the Bible App were created by a team at LifeChurch.tv in Edmond, Okla., to help increase access and engagement with the Bible. YouVersion is in the top five downloaded apps in the reference category and is the No. 1 downloaded Bible on iTunes. The Bible App has been listed in the all-time top 10 apps for the iPad and the top 50 apps for the iPhone. For more information, visit www.youversion.com/press.
Note to Editors: For more information about YouVersion and the Bible App, please contact Julie Shutley at 972-267-1111 or e-mail julie@alarryross.com.