America’s biggest trade book publisher is bolstering its mobile strategy with a deal for consumers to read the opening chapter of its new book, free-of-charge on the mobile.

Random House, which already provides language study programs and games for mobile viewing, has teamed up with content firm ICUE to deliver ‘Life’s a Pitch’ – a business manual – to mobiles via SMS.

As well as the first chapter, customers will also be able to take part in a discount scheme which will give them 40 per cent off the cost of the paper version of the book.

Random House owns a stake in content provider Vocel  which makes Princeton Review college study guides, available on mobile phones through a deal with Verizon.