Emmy Award-winning producer Mark Burnett and his wife, Touched by an Angel star Roma Downey have joined with Glo Bible and Zondervan to launch Bible360, a new app that brings the Bible to life through video, interactive technology and social media.

Preloaded with the New International Version Bible, Bible360 will build upon Glo Bible’s award-winning digital platform—which incorporates 360-degree virtual tours and animated maps—by adding social features and reading plans. Bible360 is free, but a premium upgrade is available with more content and the ability for users to sync across various devices and platforms. The premium upgrade is regularly $49.99 but has a 30%-off introductory offer.

“With Bible360, people everywhere now have the ability to explore biblical history in an insightful, accessible and immersive way,” Burnett and Downey said.

“It is an honor to be collaborating with some of the leading content creators on this new, socially charged app,” said Bible360 President John Kilcullen. “It’s our hope that Bible360 will be a tool to empower people to dive deeper into the Bible and engage in valuable conversations about the book within their communities.”

Chip Brown, Zondervan’s senior vice president and publisher for Bibles, called Bible360 “a compelling application of God’s Word.”

Social features include the ability to share scripture passages and photos via social networking channels such as Twitter and YouVersion, through the Jesus Daily page on Facebook or through the reader’s own platforms. In addition, video from Downey and Burnett’s forthcoming “HISTORY” series about the Bible will be integrated into the app in the future. To learn more, visit www.bible360.com.

In books, the story of Colton Burpo’s trip to heaven and back now comes in an interactive storybook app created by Author Mobile. Available on Apple platforms, the $6.99 Heaven Is for Real for Kids app allows children ages 4 to 8 to read, play and share the messages from the young author’s journey.

“Parents and grandparents will enjoy the ability to record their own voice reading the story,” said Laura Minchew, senior vice president of specialty publishing at Thomas Nelson. “How cool it will be for kids to share postcards, coloring sheets and puzzles via email or Facebook.”

The app includes young Burpo narrating his story; voice recording capability; artwork by the book’s illustrator, Wilson Ong; a FAQ section for kids’ most common questions after finishing the book; and an activity section.

Thomas Nelson’s Heaven Is for Real by Colton’s dad, Todd Burpo, has been read by more than 6 million people and is a New York Times best-seller.