Speak Like a Pro helps users improve their public speaking. Published in New Zealand, it has sat at the top of the entertainment and business categories in that country's App Store chart, and even reached the number one spot overall since its launch, according to Spicers.

The app is a joint venture between Paperlinx division Spicers New Zealand and developer 3CIPS, which was co-founded by ProPrint columnist Phillip Lawrence.

Lawrence said Spicers NZ had approached him eight months ago to come up with concepts that would help the paper merchant diversify into new markets.

He said Speak Like a Pro was just the first of many apps to come. "It could be games, it could be production tools. We are not limiting our scope at all in any way."

Lawrence said that while the global printing industry was worth $49 billion, the global app market has grown from being worth $7 billion in 2009 to $18 billion in 2010 and was projected to reach $185 billion by 2015.

Carolyn Lockstone, brand and communications manager at Spicers NZ, said the app was gaining popularity outside of New Zealand and the next step was replicate the success on a worldwide level.

"We developed Speak Like a Pro to help as many people as we can overcome their fear of public speaking. So it is no surprise we are witnessing downloads from different market sectors," she said.

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