FT launches beta web app on Chrome for Android

The Financial Times today announced the launch of a web app on Chrome for all Android devices, just a year after the FT launched its web app for iPad and iPhone.

The new app for Android phones and tablets will offer an alternative choice to the FT native app for Android which launched in December, group product manager Steve Pinches said in a release.

"The FT has worked closely with Google to ensure our web app works seamlessly on Chrome for Android.

"As the only major publisher with a web app built using HTML5 technology, we can offer customers the choice of using either our highly successful native app for Android or our new Chrome browser app, both of which are based on the same core technology."

Pinches told Journalism.co.uk that "the look and feel is almost identical to our iOS web app".

"The same core code base is used to power FT apps for mobile phones, tablets, and desktop and in this case has been combined with the best elements from Chrome for Android. The FT web app for Chrome is still in beta and will be fully launched in the coming months."

   

He added that no FT audience data will be shared with Google.

"The FT has a channel neutral approach whereby it offers FT journalism on whatever print or digital channel or mobile device readers use. Our readers have a single login or subscription that they use to access FT content anytime, anywhere, on a PC and multiple devices, allowing us to maintain a direct relationship with our customers."

He also confirmed that after registering users will be given free access via the beta web app on Chrome "for a limited period", but that in time the app "will be integrated into the FT.com access model where after registering, users are able to sample the content before subscribing."

In the release Pinches added that today's announcement "is just the first step" and that a desktop version of the app is due for launch soon, adding it will "ultimately" be made available "on all modern web browsers".

"This will give our users full access to the FT on all their devices even when offline, something that is hugely important to our highly mobile audience."

Last month managing director of FT.com Rob Grimshaw said the title expects 50 per cent of its digital audience will be accessing via mobile devices within three years. According to the release the FT's web app has been downloaded more than 2.5 million times since its launch last year.

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