MediaFile

Having a copy of the Financial Times poking out of your valise is one way of telling the world that you are a sophisticated business type. Another way is to show people the new FT mobile service on your BlackBerry.

Here’s the news from the press release:

The Financial Times today announces the launch of a new FT.com website optimised for mobile devices available at m.ft.com. The site is consistent with the new FT.com design unveiled in November 2008 and follows the news that FT.com has broken the one million registered user barrier for the first time.

The idea is to loop a younger generation into the FT, particularly young people who think that any newspaper showing up on any part of their person is like driving a chariot to work in the morning rush hour.

More from the release:

Phase one of the launch offers a new touch screen interface, faster access to content, improved search, the ability to customise and follow stock options and, although the site works on any phone, optimisation for the iPhone and BlackBerry which together account for over 60 per cent of FT.com mobile traffic.

And:

Phase two of the launch in the first quarter will include interactive mobile charting so users can quickly access company information and index data on the go. A dedicated iPhone application will follow, incorporating more sophisticated graphics and charts and the ability to quickly share FT content with the integration of the address book.

It’s not every day that we can work in obscure Nick Lowe album titles into our blog headlines, so it’s particularly gratifying when pop music trivia finds a golden opportunity for use after sitting around in our heads for years.

The news today is that the Financial Times, perhaps the world’s most famous pink paper, is overhauling its website starting Tuesday. It says new features will appear over the next six months.

Here is the top of the press release, and below you can see a shot of what the page will look like: