SK Telecom said Thursday it would open its mobile voice content service to all visually impaired users of smartphones irrespective of their mobile carriers.

The mobile library application, jointly developed by SK Telecom and the Korea Blind Union, offers an audio service that reads books, news, magazines and useful information for the blind.

The app has been available for only SK Telecom users so far, but will be open to users of other carriers as well.

Any smartphone user can download the app from T Store, Playstore or App Store.

The app has been downloaded nearly 440,000 times per year.

The decision came as part of SK’s new policy for shared growth with customers and society unveiled early this year, the company said, adding that it expected the move to help narrow the information divide and benefit the visually impaired.

SK Telecom said 450 of its employees will take part in recording audio books for the blind to offer a greater variety of content.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)