UNITED KINGDOM (ANS) -- Since it was first published in 1979 the New International Version (NIV) has become the world’s most popular modern English Bible translation. Translated by a team of top international scholars it is renowned for its accuracy, clarity and dignity of language.

Now the world’s most popular version of the Bible can now be downloaded onto your mobile phone. And it can now be yours at the press of a mobile phone key.

Ecumen, the company who offer Christian content for mobile phones, has partnered with Hodder and Stoughton, the UK's leading Christian trade publisher, to make available the NIV Bible for mobile phones. The Bible is available for download directly to a mobile phone for only £7.50GBP ($15USD) by sending a text with the word NIV to 82088.

Erik Fok, Head of Sales and Marketing at Ecumen, said, “Our vision at Ecumen is to enable a strong Christian presence in the mobile media. We are delighted in this partnership with Hodder & Stoughton which enables us to offer the most popular Bible version for use with the device most people carry with them every day. We are really excited to add the NIV to our portfolio of Bibles for mobiles, giving users the opportunity to carry with them the Scripture version of their choice, as easily and naturally as they carry their mobile phone.”

Ian Metcalfe, Publisher, Bibles and Digital' at Hodder & Stoughton, publishers of the NIV said: “We are delighted to have licensed Ecumen to make the NIV available on mobile phones. We want people to be able to read the Bible as easily as possible, wherever and whenever they want - whether that's in book form or via the latest technology

For further information on Ecumen visit the website www.ecumen.com  

For further information on Hodder and Stoughton visit www.hodderchristianbooks.co.uk

Media information: Gethin Russell-Jones +44 07985 145726

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael's involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of ACT International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT) International.