For general media distribution on 12 December 2011Helsingin Sanomat and Taloussanomat have built a joint web service Taloussanomat+ for financial news. The new service has been released as an Apple iPad and iPhone application.Taloussanomat+ responds to the growing demand for financial news and information. In addition to news from Taloussanomat, the service contains the financial section stories of the print Helsingin Sanomat, news from Financial Times and columns by top economists."In addition to editorial materials, the service also utilises the sound sales power and customer services of Helsingin Sanomat. We expect the service to become a success," says Petteri Putkiranta, Vice President of Digital services from Helsingin Sanomat."Until now, media publications on the Internet have mainly been financed through advertisement sales. We believe that the best results will be achieved by combining advertisements and subscription sales. The tradition of print newspapers shows that two strong income sources is the best way to ensure quality journalism," says Managing Editor Hannu Sokala of Taloussanomat.Taloussanomat+ will be published in all major channels. Apple iPads and iPhones were selected as the pilot channel for their advanced technology and popularity.According to an international survey conducted by the Sanoma Group, iPads are used to read news, browse the web and for various searches and e-mailing. Nearly all of the 3,600 respondents said that they use their tablet several times a day. Half of the respondents used the iPad from 30 minutes to two hours every day.The survey showed that iPads are most often used at home. The second most popular time of use is while travelling and on holiday. Taloussanomat+ supports offline use: the user may easily download two days' worth of news to be read, for example, on a plane."Sanoma News is closely monitoring the development of tablets and smart phones and actively creating new services for various application platforms," Putkiranta says.Readers can now try Taloussanomat+ for two weeks with no charge. Subscription prices are €8.99 per month or €99.99 per year.Additional information:Petteri Putkiranta, Vice President, Digital services, Helsingin Sanomat, petteri.putkiranta(@)sanoma.fi, tel. +358 40 550 1551Hannu Sokala, Managing Editor, Taloussanomat, hannu.sokala(@)sanoma.fi, tel. +358 40 764 5214Sanoma News is the leading newspaper publisher in Finland, and its products in both print and digital format have a strong presence in the lives of their readers. In addition to Helsingin Sanomat, the largest daily in the Nordic region, the Division publishes Ilta-Sanomat, Finland’s largest quality tabloid and Taloussanomat, the number one digital financial media, as well as regional newspapers. Sanoma News is also among the most significant digital actors in Finland. Sanoma News is part of the Sanoma Group, a strong European media group operating in diverse fields of media in 20 countries.