FT launches iPad app

The Financial Times following on from the Express the BBC – in the US – has launched an iPad app. The FT’s free iPad app – it’s sponsored by very expensive watchmakers Hublot – watch will provide access to video, markets data, investment portfolios, news and analysis.

The new app integrates with the FT.com limited access model, the company said today, giving unregistered users access to a limited number of articles each month.

The iPad app allows readers to download a daily digital version of FT for off line reading and for the first time offers video on an FT mobile product. It also features a Markets Data section with macro maps highlighting markets across the world.

The launch follows the FT rolling out an iPhone app, last year, which has so far been downloaded 300,000 times. Which doesn’t sound like a lot when we’re talking millions of iPhones but considering, the FT’s circulation and how many of the FT’s target audience are liable to be CrackBerry users, this is actually a heck of a lot, and puts the daily readership of many of the print versions of the UK quality papers to shame.

Key features of the app include the ability to:

• Download the daily FT to your iPad for off line reading
• Access content across all sections of FT.com, fully customisable so users can order key sections of the application interface – including World, Companies, Markets and more
• View the FT’s award-winning high quality video content, including the latest updates on markets and interviews with high profile CEOs each morning. This is the first time the FT has offered video on one of its mobile products.
• A dedicated Markets Data section, including macro maps highlighting markets across the world, with the option to also view regional indices and company information sheets
• Full access to view personal investment portfolios
• Read top ‘must read’ stories of the moment for the iPad edition, determined by the FT editorial team