The Financial Times will be opening up access to FT.com by allowing free access to 30 stories per month, including news, analysis, comment, columnists, and other premium content.

The new model will enable blogs, news aggregators and other websites to access FT.com content and link to it more freely. It replaces the current restrictions on access to business stories and premium content.

Users will be given free access to up to 30 stories a month, with a “light-touch” registration required after the first five articles. Apart from full access to the FT’s journalism, registrants and subscribers can benefit from personalised services, such as e-mail alerts and portfolio tools.

After 30 articles, readers who want unlimited access have an option of standard or premium subscription. Premium subscribers will have exclusive access to Lex content, which now has additional online articles and more functionality, and a new FT Mobile News Reader application which provides optimised mobile phone access to FT content.

The new access model, which launches this month, will be followed by a series of enhancements at FT.com that will be launched over the next few months. These include a new markets section, editorial features, columns and tools, a further expansion of the FT’s video journalism, and upgrades to the design and performance of the site.

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