LONDON: The Financial Times has launched the beta version of its Android App, available for a range of large screen tablets, including the Samsung 10.1 inch tablet and small screen Android phones.
The app is available to download for free from the Android market and is integrated into the FT.com access model whereby, upon registration, users are able to sample the content before subscribing. This ensures that customers can access FT content on a desktop computer and across multiple devices, with one login and one subscription payment.
Mobile is now the FT’s biggest channel for digital subscriptions, driving 15% of new subscriptions and 20% of traffic to FT.com.
“FT mobile apps offer our customers flexibility and freedom of choice with access to our global journalism anytime, anywhere, with a single login and subscription,” said Rob Grimshaw, FT.com managing director. “Our new Android app will allow FT content to be easily consumed across a rapidly growing range of new mobile devices and builds on the success of the recently launched FT Web App.”
“When considering the development of apps, the FT is pragmatic about selecting the best formats and technologies for the content, customer and our business model,” said Steve Pinches, FT group product head emerging technologies. “The FT’s new Android App uses a hybrid of HTML5 and native technology, building on the same technology used to create the FT Web App and then incorporating the best elements of Android to deliver a great experience for FT readers.”
Key features of the FT Android App include:
- Regular content updates and offline access – the app automatically refreshes content which is stored to read offline
- Automatic updates – instant product improvements without the user having to download a new version
- All access – one registration or subscription will offer customers access to FT content through a range of mobile devices or on a desktop computer.
- Speed – the native elements of the app offer a seamless experience on Android devices.
- Comprehensive content – access to a wide-range of FT content, including blogs and graphics.
- Navigation – a brand new navigation design optimised for large tablets.
The FT Android App also offers new opportunities for advertisers, with a Samsung Galaxy Note advertising campaign running on Honeycomb and handset devices in the UK at launch.
The app is available for large screen tablets running Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), small screen phones that use Android 2.2 (Froyo) and above, and will soon be available on devices using Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Download via the Android market at http://apps.ft.com/androidapp and to read more visit www.ft.com/android
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For further information please contact:
UK/EMEA:
Emily Gibbs
Communications Executive
T: +44 (0) 20 7 873 3184
E: emily.gibbs@ft.com
US:
Andrew Green
Communications Coordinator, The Americas
T: +1 212 641 6357
E: andrew.green@ft.com
Asia:
Azmar Sukandar
Head of Communications, Asia Pacific
T: +852 2905 5519
E: azmar.sukandar@ft.com
About the Financial Times:
The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of 592,390 (Deloitte assured, 4 July to 2 October 2011) and a combined print and online average daily readership of 2.1 million people worldwide (PwC assured, May 2011). FT.com has 4 million registered users and 250,000 paying digital subscribers. The newspaper, printed at 23 print sites across the globe, has a global print circulation of 345,077 (ABC, October 2011).