Bath-based digital media and publishing business Future has launched a dedicated design and development team for mobile applications as it strives to lead the market for innovation in the fast-growing sector.
The firm, whose titles include Total Film and Xbox: The Official Magazine, is already one of the world’s leading tablet publishers and the new team will look at ways of publishing content on smart phones and other mobile devices. 
Led by senior editor and recent PPA Digital Native 2013 award winner Tom Dennis, the new team will create new digital content types featuring Future’s brands and content.
The apps created by the team will complement Future’s existing digital edition strategy for Apple and Android newsstands and will use the firm’s self-developed platforms along with those from leading third parties.
The team will report into Mike Goldsmith in his new role as head of content strategy, mobile. Previously editor-in-chief, digital editions, Mr Goldsmith led the launch of Future’s magazine portfolio on Apple Newsstand in 2011 along with the migration of its key brands to interactive editions using its award-winning FutureFolio platform.
In his new role, he will lead content strategy for mobile, identifying opportunities for Future’s publishing and commercial teams and pushing innovation in its content offerings for phone and tablet.
Future chief information officer Stuart Anderton said: “Tapping in to the incredible potential of mobile requires fast-moving thought and development. We have our own software creation and distribution tools which free up talented individuals to make exciting new products really quickly and take them to market, held back only by the speed of their imagination.”
Mr Goldsmith added: “I’ve enjoyed working with FutureFolio to create best-in-class digital editions that our customers love. Now the skills and best practise around digital editions are embedded inside the editorial teams, it’s time to experiment with brand-new content types and reach out to new audiences wherever they are. Whether it’s phone or tablet, iOS or Android, I believe we can not only continue to innovate in our mobile products but seek out new opportunities and revenues for our brands we haven't even considered."
The first apps from the new team will launch within the next three months.
Last year Future sold more than 5m issues of its 100 digital titles as well as 19m copies of its printed magazines.
