FT.com, The Financial Times' on-line operation, this week entered
the PR services sector with the launch of FTPro - a global news, search
and monitoring operation for the business market.
The product allows corporate PROs and other customers to decide which
sectors and companies they wish to track through the news media and then
scans 300 media sources from around the world to provide what it
describes as 'up-to- the-minute cuttings'.
A number of blue-chips and trade associations have already registered
with FTPro, including the Confederation of British Industry and the
Institute of Chartered Accountants.
The service, which is expected to be updated hourly, can be personalised
to deliver relevant articles on clients or sector competitors throughout
the day.
'Unlike a traditional cuttings service, users won't have to wait until
the end of the day to find out what's happening within the sector they
are interested in,' said FT Group head of comms Joanna
Manning-Cooper.
The company claimed this week that FTPro would make research faster and
simpler for busy PROs and executives who haven't got the time to search
endlessly through websites.
'Our competitor, Nexis Lexis, searches 1,200 sources, FTPro scans the
top 300. That's because this service is concerned with providing only
the most relevant information rather than the most complete,' said Nigel
Stockton, FT Group head of partnership and alliances .
The cost of FTPro to its customers depends on the amount of users within
each company, as well as the type of service selected. Customers can
choose between European and World Pro with the price varying
accordingly.
Once the registration fee is paid, however, there are no additional
search costs.
'We've taken the "all you can eat" approach,' said Manning- Cooper.
FT.com chief operating officer Zach Leonard said: 'This is the latest in
a phased line of paid-for services from FT.com.'
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